Beef producers hear how to improve feed efficiency
By Heather Thorstensen
hthorstensen@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 01/11/2012 4:00 PM
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ROCHESTER, Minn.— A cattle consultant for Land O'Lakes Purina Feed gave beef producers tips on how to optimize feed efficiency during Cattle Feeder Days.
Chad Zehnder spoke Dec. 8 in Rochester during the University of Minnesota Extension Beef Team's annual presentation.
Average daily gain remains an important factor to feedlot profitability but more dollars are tied to feed efficiency, he said.
Zehnder discussed what he considers the less obvious aspects that affect feed efficiency: feedstuff delivery and mixing, feedstuff shrink and feedstuff selection.
Make sure the total mixed ration is prepared properly. The top mistake producers make with TMRs is over-filling the mixer, which can result in more variation when the feed is delivered, said Zehnder Other TMR tips were to check if the scale on the mixer is accurate and see if the TMR is level because gravity can play a roll in whether the mix comes out properly.
Zehnder showed pictures from farms with new feed on top of old feed, causing it to spoil quickly, and broken bunks that spilled feed.
He advised producers to put in cement bunks if given the choice between wood and cement. Wood bunks don't last as long and they harbor more bacteria, he said.
"Every time I see someone put up a new facility with wood bunks, I just cringe," said Zehnder.
Reducing feedstuff shrink, or waste, is a big opportunity on every operation to make improvements, he said. Don't simply gauge efficiency on how feed is used by cattle; also think of how it's stored.
Take the time to properly store feedstuff, he said. A loss in quality can occur by exposing it to oxygen or excessive heat. To get the right compaction, apply 800 pounds per ton unloaded per hour.
"Dry matter recovery in your piles are huge," he said.
With a corn silage yield of approximately 20 tons per acre, recovering five percent of dry matter from 1,000 tons harvested is equal to a value of 2.5 acres.
If less than ideal conditions cause producers to store less than ideal forages, it may pay to look at preservatives to protect the feed quality.
Weight on top of feed storage plastic is more important than plastic strength, he said.
"As much weight as we can get in on that bunker, the better," he said. "Remember, we're trying to get rid of that air."
Zehnder suggested producers consider using bins rather than bays to control shrink on feed supplements.
In terms of feedstuff selection, Zehnder is a fan of earlage. It's important for producers to figure out what works in their operations when harvest costs, storage costs and storage losses are counted, he said.
Forage is no longer an abundant luxury in the Upper Midwest. Hay production was down nine percent in the region in 2011 compared to 2010. Nationwide production was reduced by 10 percent, partly because the South Plains was down 36 percent.
"We do need roughage in there, we need to maintain rumen health," he said.
Consider the true cost of roughage in price per unit of energy delivered. A hay price of $120 per ton works out to the same energy equivalent as $7.50 to $8.50 corn, he said.
Producers should figure in some spoilage with the cost of ethanol byproducts, said Zehnder. Depending on how long it will be stored and other factors, wet or modified distillers grain could have losses of five percent to 20 percent. A typical loss is around 10 percent, Zehnder said.
Because of the high costs associated with feeding cattle, it's important to monitor the herd while they are still in the feedlot to make efficiency improvements.