December 12, 2013
US feed producers may consider alternative feeding strategies
Due to declining corn prices, which are giving beef producers opportunity to rethink feeding strategies, alternative feed costs are likely to follow the corn pricing trend, Justin Waggoner, Kansas State University (KSU) beef specialist, said.
"A lot of by-products and livestock feeds are priced in relation to corn markets," Waggoner said. "So as prices change, livestock producers may see advantages in modifying feeding strategies. There are many more feed products available to producers today than there were 15 or 20 years ago. Those include dried grains with solubles (DDGs), corn gluten and in some areas rapeseed is becoming more available. In reviewing feed costs, the best way to compare feed sources is on a cost per unit nutrient basis, such as the cost of a unit of crude protein or TDN."
Waggoner also encourages beef producers to consider how they can manage feed costs based on variations in cow nutrition needs. Understanding how nutrient requirements differ from the time cows are lactating, dry, pregnant and then lactating again may allow for less costly feeds at different points in that cycle.
Waggoner points to weaning practices as one area where producers may find opportunities to save on feed costs by reviewing the purpose of and cost of weaning plans.
"In Kansas we just came through our third consecutive year of drought," Waggoner said. "Traditionally, Kansas beef producers have weaned calves the first part of October or early November. Because of a shortage of feed, they''ve been rethinking that plan, asking why they''ve used that practice and how it works in the current weather situation."
Kansas beef producers have found that calves can be weaned at an earlier age and do well when placed on feed.
Since feed costs are a livestock producer''s largest expense, saving even US$0.002 to US$0.003/head/day can add up over the long term.
While it takes time and effort, beef producers may find multiple benefits in the pursuit of a thorough knowledge of cow nutrition and economic strategies for providing adequate nutrients.
"Reviewing feed costs and gaining thorough knowledge of how to meet cow nutrient requirements makes us better cattlemen," Waggoner said. "If we continually challenge ourselves to improve on what we''re doing, it will force us to learn more. In today''s cattle market, there can be great reward for being on the front end of a profit curve. That''s not to say that leading changes doesn''t come without risk."
A tool beef producers can take advantage of to assess opportunity and risk for their operation is analysis and review of long term data.