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Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically, and updated as needed. To obtain 

the current version of this standard, contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE 

CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD 

FEED MANAGEMENT 

(No. of Systems and AUs Affected) 

CODE 592 

DEFINITION 

Managing the quantity of available nutrients 

fed to livestock and poultry for their intended 

purpose. 

PURPOSE 

• Supply the quantity of available nutrients 

required by livestock and poultry for 

maintenance, production, performance, 

and reproduction; while reducing the 

quantity of nutrients, especially nitrogen 

and phosphorus, excreted in manure by 

minimizing the over-feeding of these and 

other nutrients. 

• Improve net farm income by feeding 

nutrients more efficiently. 

CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES 

Confined livestock and poultry operations with 

a whole farm nutrient imbalance, with more 

nutrients imported to the farm than are 

exported and/or utilized by cropping programs. 

Confined livestock and poultry operations that 

have a significant build up of nutrients in the 

soil due to land application of manure. 

Confined livestock and poultry operations that 

land apply manure and do not have a land 

base large enough to allow nutrients to be 

applied at rates recommended by soil test and 

utilized by crops in the rotation. 

Livestock and poultry operations seeking to 

enhance nutrient efficiencies. 

CRITERIA 

General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes

The diets for specific species of animals shall 

be developed in accordance recommendations 

from one of the following: 

• Standards outlined in the most current 

recommendations of the National 

Research Council (NRC). 

• Recommendations of the land grant 

university. 

• Standards developed by the professional 

nutritionists of livestock and poultry 

production companies, feed companies, 

and/or feed suppliers. 

Laboratory analysis shall be done on the 

formulated diet, or on the feed ingredients 

used to formulate the diet, to determine its 

nutrient content. 

Feed analyses shall be conducted by 

laboratories whose tests are accepted by the 

Land Grant University in the state in which the 

feeding strategy will be implemented. Data 

from analyzed feed ingredients and/or 

appropriate historic feed analysis information 

for the operation will be used for adjustments 

of ration formulation. 

Diets and feed management strategies shall 

be developed by professional animal 

scientists, independent professional 

nutritionists or other comparably qualified 

individuals. When required by state policy or 

regulation, animal nutritionists shall be certified 

through any certification program recognized 

within the state. 

Diets shall be formulated to provide the 

quantities and correct relative ratios of 
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available nutrients required by the animal 

species to meet the goals for which the plan is 

being developed. 

Adjustments to nutrient levels shall be 

provided to meet specific genetic potential, 

environmental demands, and/or requirements 

to insure health, well-being and productivity. 

One or more of the following feed 

management practices and/or diet 

manipulation technologies shall be used to 

reduce N, P and other excreted nutrients while 

maintaining the health, well-being and 

productivity of the animal. 

• Formulating diets closer to animal 

requirements. 

• Reducing protein and supplementing with 

amino acids (non-ruminants). 

• Manipulating the crude protein and energy 

(carbohydrate and fat) content of the diet 

to enhance the availability of amino acids 

(ruminants). 

• Using highly digestible feeds, as 

appropriate, in the diet. 

• Using phytase and reducing the 

supplemental phosphorus content of the 

diet (non-ruminants) 

• Reducing the phosphorus content of the 

diet of ruminants when it is being overfed. 

• Using selected enzymes or other products 

to enhance feed digestibility or feed use 

efficiency. 

• Using growth promotants as allowed by 

law. 

• Implementing phase feeding. 

• Implementing split-sex feeding. 

• Using other feed management or diet 

manipulation technologies that have 

demonstrated the ability to reduce manure 

nutrient content. 

When analysis of manure is done to determine 

manure nutrient content, the analysis shall be 

performed by laboratories whose results are 

accepted by the Land Grant University in the 

state in which the feeding strategy was 

implemented. 

CONSIDERATIONS 

Consider nutrient requirements for production 

based upon stage of growth, intended purpose 

of the animal and the type of production (e.g., 

meat, milk, eggs) involved. 

Use management practices described in the 

NRCS Nutrient Management (Feed 

Management) Technical Notes for the specific 

animal species. 

Analyzing the drinking water consumed by the 

animals to determine its nutrient content, and 

adjusting the diet to account for this source of 

nutrients. 

Different feed ingredients (e.g. by- products) 

and their potential impacts on the nutrient 

content of excreted manure. 

The potential impact of feed management on 

the volume of manure excreted and on manure 

storage requirements. 

The impact of feed management practices, 

animal management practices, and diet 

manipulation on manure odors, pathogens, 

animal health and well-being. 

Using concentrates and forages grown on the 

farm to minimize the quantity of nutrients 

imported to the farm, and to maximize the 

recycling of nutrients on the farm. 

Analyzing excreted manure or manure from 

storage facilities to determine manure nutrient 

content and to estimate the impact of the 

feeding strategy. 

PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS 

Plans and specifications for feed management 

shall be in keeping with the requirements of 

this standard. They shall describe the specific 

feed management practices and/or 

technologies that are planned for the 

operation. 

The following components shall be included in 

the feed management plan: 

• The type of technology, or technologies, 

and/or feeding practices that will be used 

on the operation. 

• Feed analyses and ration formulation 

information prior to and after 
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implementation of feed management on 

the operation. 

• The estimated, or measured, nutrient 

content of the manure prior to the 

implementation of feed management on 

the operation. 

• The estimated impact that feed 

management will have on manure nutrient 

content. 

• Guidance for how often the feed 

management plan shall be reviewed and 

potentially revised. 

• The quantities and sources of nitrogen and 

phosphorus that will be fed. 

• Identification of the qualified feed 

management specialist who developed the 

plan. 

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE 

The producer/client is responsible for the 

operation and maintenance of the feed 

management plan. Operation and 

maintenance activities address the following: 

• Periodic plan review to determine if 

adjustments or modifications are needed. 

• Routine feed analysis to document the 

rates at which nitrogen and phosphorus 

were actually fed. When actual rates fed 

differ from or exceed the planned rates, 

records will indicate the reasons for the 

differences. 

• Maintaining records to document plan 

implementation. As applicable, records 

include: 

♦ Records of feed analysis and ration 

formulation, including the record of 

ration formulation used prior to 

implementing the feeding strategy. 

♦ Records of the initial estimate of the 

impact the feeding strategy was 

expected to have on reducing manure 

nutrient content. 

♦ Records of any manure analysis that 

was done after the feeding strategy was 

implemented to determine manure 

nutrient content. 

♦ Dates of review and person performing 

the review, and any recommendations 

that resulted from the review. 

Records of plan implementation shall be 

maintained for five years, or for a period longer 

than five years if required by other Federal, 

state, or local ordinances, program, or contract 

requirements.