Texas A&M lab empowers producers to make data-driven decisions
Analyzing manure can help producers determine forage quality and livestock nutrition needs while making better management decisions, enhancing animal health and saving money.
According to a Feb. 25 Texas A&M AgriLife article by Sarah Fuller, Texas A&M AgriLife Research’s Grazingland Animal Nutrition (GAN) Lab transfers manure analysis into actionable insights.
Established in 1987, the GAN Lab has been offering diagnostic diet analyses and nutritional decision support information for monitoring grazing animals.
“By providing accurate information on forage quality and livestock nutritional needs, the lab enables producers to make informed decisions enhancing efficiency, improving land management and lowering costs,” states the article.
More than manure
According to Fuller, over the last three decades, South Texas Cattle Producer Bob McCan has discovered more about his rangeland and pasture conditions from analyzing manure than any academic paper or ranch consultation could provide.
McCan is a prime example of the many producers nationwide who trust the GAN Lab to expertly convert manure analysis into impactful information, driving success in their operations.
“We’re able to see the level of nutrition our cattle are getting throughout the year and tailor supplemental programs – whether it be vitamin and mineral packages or additional feeding,” McCan states. “This helps us better forecast management needs and optimize efficiency on the ranch.”
Given proper nutrition impacts fertility, gestation, general health and livestock yields, the significance of these insights cannot be overstated.
“At the heart of the GAN Lab’s mission is dietary diagnostic analysis of manure using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS),” states Texas A&M GAN Lab Director and AgriLife Research Associate Professor Dr. Doug Tolleson.
“NIRS works similarly to how our eyes perceive color,” Tolleson explains. “Just as we see all of the pretty colors of bluebonnets because they reflect certain light wavelengths, NIRS detects and analyzes specific wavelengths absorbed and reflected by materials in manure samples.”
GAN Lab scientists can identify key nutritional markers such as protein and total digestible nutrients by shining near-infrared light energy on dried manure samples and applying calibrated equations.
The lab utilizes its Nutritional Balance Analyzer (NUTBAL) software, to effectively process this information.
NUTBAL is a decision support system which models the crude protein and net energy status of cattle, sheep and goats.
The computerized decision aid lets users know their herd and environmental conditions while establishing a weight performance target using the most cost-effective nutrition management plan.
By taking into account environmental factors and livestock profiles, NUTBAL provides valuable insights to ensure dietary needs are being optimally met.
Results
The lab plays a crucial role in identifying nutritional gaps while also uncovering significant cost-saving opportunities.
By accurately assessing when forage conditions meet or surpass an animal’s needs, GAN Lab helps producers optimize their resources, enhancing overall animal health efficiently.
“The analysis helped us realize we were exceeding the nutritional requirements of our sheep herd and spending extra money on supplemental feeding when they were doing just fine on pasture,” states Erika Campbell, a commercial livestock producer in West Texas. “The nutritional monitoring results helped us fine-tune our supplementation strategies, maintain animal health and condition and prevent excess spending on feed.”
Over time, the lab’s aggregated data empowers producers to confidently track trends and clearly identify how specific land management practices, such as grazing rotation or prescribed fire, directly influence forage production. This valuable insight allows for informed and proactive management decisions.
Impact
The GAN Lab stands out among other laboratories using NIRS for manure analysis, as it is one of the few commercial labs in the U.S. offering producer predictions about animal diet quality which gives the lab a unique position in the industry, according to the article.
“Beyond the U.S., the lab has supported international producers through projects such as the East Africa Livestock Early Warning System and the Mali Livestock and Pastoralist Initiative,” Tolleson states. “The lab has collaborated with laboratories around the world and has even helped many new labs set up their instruments.”
Tolleson aims to increase the number of producers utilizing the lab’s services while also exploring innovative applications for NIRS in agriculture and land management.
“Our goal is to continue to do what we’ve done well, find out where we can improve and ultimately provide better quality information to help people manage the nutrition of their animals,” Tolleson adds.
By integrating science, technology and practice, the GAN Lab empowers producers with tools to optimize livestock performance, protect natural resources and improve profitability.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
