Long-awaited report includes new information on energy and nutrient requirements for beef cattle at all stages.

Tim Lundeen 1, Feedstuffs Editor

May 17, 2016

2 Min Read
Eighth NRC beef cattle nutrition guidelines released

The National Academies Press announced that the new "Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle, 8th Revised Edition" will be available for sale beginning May 16.

ASAS will host webinar on the report at noon (CDT) on May 25 at; registration is available here.

Since 1944, the National Research Council (NRC) has published seven editions of the "Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle." This reference has guided nutritionists and other professionals in academia and the cattle and feed industries in developing and implementing nutritional and feeding programs for beef cattle. The cattle industry has undergone considerable changes since the seventh revised edition was published in 2000, and some of the requirements and recommendations set forth at that time are no longer relevant or appropriate, NRC said.

The eighth revised edition of the "Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle" builds on the previous editions. A great deal of new research has been published during the past 14 years, and there is a large amount of new information on many nutrients, NRC explained.

In addition to a thorough and current evaluation of the literature on the energy and nutrient requirements of beef in all stages of life, this volume includes new information about phosphorus and sulfur contents, a review of nutritional and feeding strategies to minimize nutrient losses in manure and reduce greenhouse gas production, a discussion of the effect of feeding on the nutritional quality and food safety of beef, new information about nutrient metabolism and utilization, new information on feed additives that alter rumen metabolism and post-absorptive metabolism and future areas of needed research.

The tables of feed ingredient composition have been updated significantly.

The publication represents a comprehensive review of the most recent information available on beef cattle nutrition and ingredient composition that will allow efficient, profitable and environmentally conscious beef production, according to NRC.

This long-awaited report was made possible through the support of the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), Canadian Beef Cattle Research Council, Institute for Feed Education & Research, Illinois Beef Assn., Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Iowa Corn Growers Assn., Minnesota Corn Growers Assn., National Cattlemen’s Beef Assn., National Research Support Project-9, Nebraska Corn Board and U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.

More information on the report is available here.

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