Make Every Morsel of Feed Count

Today commodity prices soaring, shipping costs are rising, commodity stockpiles are shrinking, drought persists in parts of the country and the cost of providing feed to livestock is projected to increase thus potentially providing significant negative impacts to your budget.  If you are a livestock producer, here are a few items for you to think about.

·       Developing a plan to efficiently maximize and utilize your available standing forages may be the lowest cost, easiest to implement and helpful strategy to reduce your overall costs production, may improve the lbs. of available DM produced per acre. This could allow you to provide adequate nutrition for most forms of livestock covering a majority of the year and where they are in their production cycle in Virginia. You may at programs like the Graze 300 program which can apply to most species.

·       Remember, using a TMR or (totally mixed ration) can improve digestion efficiencies just by maintaining a uniformly mixed feed. This improves rumen microbial digestion by having nutrient dense and consistent feeds to ferment. TMRs also reduce sorting at the feed bunk, allow for correct ration formulation, aid in correct ration delivery weights (when scales are used) and allow you to incorporate and alter the palatability of various feeds and feed additives. TMRs generally combine ground hay or other forages. Grinding forage allows for mixing with other feeds, decreases selectivity and reduces feed waste.

·       Consider adding feed additives.  Feed additives that are called ionophores (monensin and lasolocid) can improve feed digestion by changing the microbial populations in the rumen. A change in feed efficiency can be improved 7% to 10% when ionophores are added to the ration. Ionophores also can act to reduce the incidence of coccidiosis. Another additive, yeast and yeast cultures are referred to as probiotics/prebiotics and function to supply nutrition and stimulate bacteria in the gut. Some studies have shown increased feed efficiency and performance when these products are used on a consistent basis.

·       Make sure you provide plenty of water, it is needed for better microbial digestion and better the feed utilization.

·       Consider utilizing feed stuffs that you have not incorporated on your farm if they are available locally and this can potentially reduce costs associated with shipping.

·       Consider using some feeds containing high fiber content (forages and crop residues).  Often, they can be ammoniated with anhydrous ammonia or treated with calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide to increase energy content. These are very caustic chemicals and caution is advised.

·       Keep the rations balanced, as a balanced ration feed consistently will improve overall digestion efficiency. Adequate protein along with adequate vitamins and mineral are needed for the animal to use the energy and proteins in feed efficiently. Increase the use of sampling and laboratory analysis of feeds and forages.   Use a qualified nutritionist to balance rations and use the appropriate feeds in the rations mix. Certain blends of feeds complement each other and improve digestibility.

·       Try to minimize feeding waste. Providing a ration in feed throughs/bunks or some type of container system is a good idea to reduce feed waste. Livestock on pasture without bunks will lead to feed waste. While the livestock may appear to have eaten the feed, 10% to 20% of the feed may be trampled or lost into the soil.

If you not not incorporate a budget in decision making and just do things because it cash flows, you may improve overall profitability by incorporating the use of budgeting and honing down in certain areas.  If you need assistance or have questions please contact you local VCE, Extension agent.  I can be reached at cchilds@vt.edu .