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NIRS NUTBAL Program

The NIRS/NUTBAL Program: Nutritional Monitoring System for Grazing Animals

The livestock producer is collecting a fecal sample.  This is the first step to starting your nutritional monitoring program for livestock and/or wildlife.

In recent years, the analysis of fecal samples, a.k.a. manure, has proven to be a useful and effective diagnostic and management tool.  A fecal sample collected out in the pasture can be sent to the Grazingland Animal Nutrition Lab (GAN Lab).  The GAN Lab analyzes the fecal sample using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to determine the quality of the forage the animals were consuming 36 hours prior to defecating.

The second component of the system, NUTBAL Pro, is a decision support software that determines: 1) if animals are on a positive or negative nutritional plane, 2) daily weight gain/loss, and 3) the most cost effective feeding option if supplementation is needed. 

This combined NIRS/NUTBAL Pro System monitors the changes in forage quality over time and matches the nutritional needs of livestock to the most economical feedstuff currently available.  A regular monitoring program such as a monthly sampling schedule provides a wealth of information that brings a new level of confidence to the decision making process.

Send mail to  ganlab@cnrit.tamu.edu with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: October 14, 2001