Feed rations and methods of feeding growing ruminants

A method of improving weight gain of a growing ruminant comprising:

• providing the ruminant one or more feed ingredients, and
• providing the ruminant an α-amino acid analog selected from the group consisting of the calcium salt of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid.
• wherein the combination of feed ingredients comprise at least 80% forage, and
• wherein the assortment and composition of said feed ingredients are such that the amounts thereof which can be consumed by the growing ruminant in one day can collectively satisfy the ruminant's daily nutrient requirements, and exceed its daily maintenance energy requirements;
• provided that such assortment and composition may not necessarily satisfy the growing ruminant's methionine requirements.

A process of formulating a feed ration for growing ruminants, the process comprising:

• determining the nutritional requirements of the growing ruminant;
• determining the maintenance energy requirements of the growing ruminant;
• identifying one or more feed ingredients other than α-amino acid analogs and determining the nutritional content and energy contribution of each of said feed ingredients;
• formulating a feed ration from the identified feed ingredients such that the amount of feed ration which can be consumed by the growing ruminant in one day can collectively satisfy the ruminant's daily nutrient requirements, and exceed its daily maintenance energy requirements;
• provided that such assortment and composition may not necessarily satisfy the growing ruminant's methionine requirements;
• and
• additionally incorporating into the feed ration an α-amino acid analog without regard to its energy contribution to the feed ration.

A feed ration for growing ruminants comprising:

• one or more feed ingredients and an α-amino acid analog;
• wherein the feed ration comprises at least 50% forage;
• wherein the α-amino acid analog is selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid, and salts, esters, amides, ethers, diesters, ester/ethers, oligomers, metal chelates, and anion salts thereof;
• and the salt, ester, amide, ether, oligomer, metal chelate, and anion salt analogs of methionine;
• and
• wherein the salts of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid are selected from the group consisting of ammonium, magnesium, lithium, sodium, potassium, and zinc;
• the feed ration being formulated such that an amount of feed ration that is capable of being consumed by a growing ruminant in a day satisfies the ruminant's daily nutritional requirements, and exceeds its daily maintenance energy requirements;
• provided that such assortment and composition may not necessarily satisfy the growing ruminant's methionine requirements.

A feed ration for growing ruminants comprising:

• one or more feed ingredients and the calcium salt of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid;
• wherein the feed ration comprises at least 80% forage;
• and
• the feed ration being formulated such that an amount of feed ration that is capable of being consumed by a growing ruminant in a day satisfies the ruminant's daily nutritional requirements, and exceeds daily maintenance energy requirements of a growing ruminant;
• provided that such assortment and composition may not necessarily satisfy the growing ruminant's methionine requirements.