What Is NRC in Feed Rations?
The reference to "NRC" in feed rations refers to an organization called the Natural Research Council. The National Research Council studies the nutritional requirements for many different animals. The NRC then establishes guidelines for nutrition requirements for groups of animals, and updates the guidelines when new information is discovered.
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National Academies
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The National Research Council is part of an organization called the National Academies. The National Academies are chartered by the U.S. government to perform research. Livestock producers pay into the funds that pay the veterinarians and biologists who perform the feed research. The NRC is a private educational institution, so it advises farmers and pet owners, it does not regulate livestock farms directly, although government agricultural regulators use its reports.
NRC Publications
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The NRC publishes books that explain the nutrient requirements of several types of animals. The books are organized by groups of animals, so there is a book for fish, a book for dogs and cats, a book for sheep and goats, and so on. According to the National Academies Press, these NRC books have been published since 1944. There are several editions of each book, and the NRC funds research to improve the nutritional information in each book. Newer editions of the NRC books also come with CDs that provide supplemental information.
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Example NRC Guideline
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An NRC recommendation includes guidelines, such as protein percentage in cattle feed. According to the Extension Educational Partnership, the NRC separates protein for cattle into two categories, rumen degraded and rumen undegraded protein. Rumen degraded protein is fermented by bacteria in the cow's rumen, a digestive organ, and so the feed standards also include information on what the organisms such as bacteria in an animal's digestive system can eat.
Guideline Changes
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Newer NRC editions have changed how the nutrient levels in feed is measured. Minerals such as phosphorus are now measured in terms of amount absorbed by the animals, instead of how much phosphorus is present in the food. That is a safety measure that prevents the livestock from eating excessive amounts of vitamins. Other sections were added, such as a section that explains the volume of dry food livestock should eat.
Topic Organization
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NRC books separate the food requirements by the age and living environment of the animals. Feed sold in stores is often separated by a pet's age, such as a food for puppies, adult dogs, and senior dogs. The amount of different nutrients an animal needs for growth and maintenance changes during its lifetime. For example, the NRC books provide specific information for cattle, such as the amount of extra food a cow needs when it is pregnant and extra food needed when a cow travels across a pasture to forage for food. The NRC gives advice on the lifetime feeding cost of an animal, including equations used for that calculation.
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References
- Photo Credit cattle image by Nino Pavisic from Fotolia.com
