Agri CIEL - Re-defining nutrition standards for improving beef production efficiency

Nutrient requirements of beef cattle have not been revised since the publication of the AFRC book in 1993.

Since that time the genetic base of the English cattle population has changed as have the feeds commonly used by farmers.

An update of these nutrition models is overdue.





Aims and Objectives

This project aims to deliver new guidelines for predicting beef cattle performance and feed requirements.

Engage with industry to clearly define needs and priorities
To develop new equations providing improved predictions of feed intake for main types of animals and
diets according to animal and diet characteristics
To develop new models for predicting growth and composition of modern beef genotypes (both dairy-
and beef-origin) according to category of animal
To update models for the energy requirements of growing and finishing beef cattle (by category) and suckler cows
To revise models for rumen microbial protein synthesis and metabolisable protein requirements
To revise feed values for major feed categories fed to beef cattle in the UK – particularly filling gaps in
information about new feed types
Model the effects of feed interactions on feed values
To develop prediction models for methane emissions of beef cattle (suckler cows, growing and finishing
cattle)
Towards the end of the project there will be a campaign of knowledge exchange to disseminate the outputs of the project and encourage implementation of the new models.