How to raise Backyard Chickens: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Milk

Thursday, November 24, 2011

[CHICKENS-101] Re: Milk

Jane wrote:

"So prof, does that mean that if I give the girls a treat of sardines in oil although the sardines give them protein to boost energy levels the oil gives them too much protein ? which overloads them and counteracts the good effect of the fish. Is that chemically or because they themselves become more energetic & use up all the energy too quickly? "

*** 15 ***

Hi Jane:

An occasional treat of sardines in oil likely has little effect on overall nutrition.

Conversely a sustained regimen of fish packed in oil (such as to provide nutritional assistance during molt or to alleviate cannibalism ) may cause problems due to excess weight gain and fat deposition with subsequent loss in egg production and tendency toward other problems such as ascites.

In any event there appears to be some confusion in the question regarding understanding the respective nutritional roles of protein and energy.

*** 15 ***

It may be useful to think of fat as Energy storage, muscle as Protein storage and feathers as Protein black hole - goes in and never comes out!

For purposes of compounding and balancing feed rations, feed ingredients are classified into two categories: Energy and Protein.

Most feed ingredients contain both energy and protein, however ingredients with a composition of 20% or more protein are classed as "protein feeds" while those with less than 20% are classed as "energy feeds".

For example:

Beans, Navy, seeds: International Feed #5-00-623, 2,320 Kcal/Kg energy, 22.6% protein = protein feed.

Wheat, Hard Red Winter, grain: I.F.#4-05-268, 3,194 Kcal/Kg energy, 12.7% protein = energy feed.

Corn, Yellow Dent, grain: I.F.#4-02-935, 3,383 Kcal/Kg energy, 9.6% protein = energy feed.

Sardine, meal, mechanical extracted: I.F.#5-02-015, 2,896 Kcal/Kg energy, 65.2% protein = protein feed.

(whole sardines probably assay at slightly less protein and slightly more energy because they retain their natural oil.)

Oil, Soybean: I.F.#4-07-983: 8,929 Kcal/Kg energy, 1.4% protein = energy feed.

Water, tap: USDA #14411: 0.0 Kcal/Kg energy, 0.0% protein = dilution feed.

The Nutrient Requirements Of Poultry lists the requirement for adult brown egg layers as 16% Protein at 2,850 Kcal/Kg Energy, thus a ration compounded to provide these levels is considered balanced with respect to these two parameters; i.e. energy is sufficient to maintain life functions, metabolize protein with little to none excreted and provide enough excess energy to sustain the high level of reproduction typical of modern breeds (including those breeds considered "heritage").

In commercial rations, protein ingredients are often at minimal levels because protein (especially animal protein) is expensive and under "normal" conditions excess protein beyond the bird's actual need is excreted.

Excess energy becomes fat.

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Molt, and the resulting feather replacement, is not a "normal" condition with respect to the compounding of feed rations.

Feather replacement requires amounts of protein in excess of that needed for maintenance of muscle tone and protein necessary for reproduction.

Which is why birds stop laying during molt: they need the protein for building feathers. Feathers to fly so they can survive to reproduce another day. As a result of the need to survive there is not enough protein available for reproduction.

In any event, Energy requirement remains essentially constant - i.e. energy can be used to maintain life functions and produce eggs, OR maintain life functions and produce feathers.

Keep in mind both conditions are pre-determined- a result of genetics and evolution of birds.

Sardines (or other fish) in oil provide a boost in available protein which goes to feather production and an EXCESS of Energy (due to the oil) which is turned to fat.

Sardines (or other fish) in water provide a boost in protein which goes to feather production with little or no increase in fat.

***15***

"If I mix it in with dry oats What effect will that have? (It is a mix I have given the girls on & off for the last 3 years since I have had them) and if it is wrong I would like to rectify it. "

This part of the Q. is a bit confusing, however as the subject is "milk", I'm assuming you are adding liquid milk to oats and feeding the resulting porridge to your birds?

Oats, grain: I.F.#4-03-309, 2,543 Kcal/Kg energy, 11.8% protein

Milk, fresh, cattle: I.F.#5-01-168, No ME given for poultry as liquid milk is mostly water and the energy is largely in lactose which birds cannot utilize because birds do not produce lactase. (milk has 681 Kcal/Kg Energy for swine which are mammals and can utilize lactose) 3.3% protein.

So, let's make a ration of 1 Kg of oats and 1 Kg of liquid milk = 2 Kg of feed.

1 Kg of oats contains 2,543 Kcal of energy and 118 g of protein. (11.8% of 1000 g = 118 g)

1 Kg of liquid milk contains 0 Kcal of energy (for poultry) and 33 g of protein.

118 g + 33 g = 151 g

151 g / 2000 g = 7.6% protein @ 1,271 Kcal

Protein requirement: 16%. Milk oats ration = 47.5% of the requirement. Oats alone 73.8% of requirement.

Energy requirement: 2850. Milk oats ration = 44.6% of the requirement. Oats alone 89.2% of requirement.

Prof.