Nutrient requirement standards for economically important domestic animals and laboratory animals have served as the foundation for animal feed formulas in the United States and abroad since the first National Research Council (NRC) report was published in 1921. The requirements set forth in the series of species reports, begun in 1944, are used by producers and manufacturers as the basis for feed formulation; the NRC is the only nongovernmental organization in the United States that provides these kinds of data. NRC reports are also used extensively in teaching and research. Today, the comprehensive data contained in NRC reports form the basis for animal nutrient recommendations throughout the world.
Since 1942, the NRC has published and updated nutrient requirement reports in 15 specific animal groups--beef cattle, cats, dairy cattle, dogs, fishes, goats, horses, laboratory animals, mink and foxes, nonhuman primates, poultry, rabbits, sheep, and swine. To keep pace with newer research findings, the NRC periodically revises its reports, focusing on the adequacy of existing requirement levels in light of ongoing research findings, and determining whether revisions of current requirements or establishment of new requirements for a previously unlisted nutrient are warranted.
Previous revisions of nutrient requirements for swine, beef cattle, horses, and dairy cattle, featured the inclusion of a computer disk containing a software program that allows the operator to predict nutrient requirements for animals under a variety of conditions.
Recently revised editions include:
Report release schedules are subject to change. For updates and information, please contact Austin Lewis, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources at 202-334-3281 or e-mail alewis@nas.edu.
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