The nutrients that cannot be absorbed by the animal are excreted. Also, farmers have already made large strides toward optimizing feed over the last two decades because of economics, said George Robinson, a feed manufacturer, poultry and beef farm operator, and chairman of a committee which oversees implementation of Pennsylvania's new nutrient management law. It just isn't economically feasible. You'll go broke in a hurry if you do. There's something to be gained there, but it's probably going to be a fairly small gain.
Amino acids affect how nutrients get absorbed in the intestinal tract.
Charles Ramberg, Jr., director of the center for animal health and productivity at Bolton, said nitrogen in the wastes can be reduced by 25 percent or more. Achieving that requires an unusual mix of ingredients, some of which are grown on the farm, others from commodity purchases available through traditional means. Things like fish meal, bits of blood meal, and certain mixtures or forms of ingredients that have specific characteristics. But what works for one animal may not work for another. For example, hogs and chickens have single stomachs, while cows have digestive systems consisting of four chambers.