Having to feed supplements is sometimes necessary for cattle operations. That being said, it is something other than what most ranchers like to do. Feed costs remain the single most considerable expense for any cattle producer. The amount really depends on different things, but it can easily be half of the total annual expenses.
As I said before, the total amount that it can cost you depends on a few things. Such factors include the time of year and the current forage conditions. In a drought situation, feed costs can total 70% of the total yearly expenses.
You may think it is not easy to reduce feed costs without sacrificing overall production. There are some who have no problem with that, but they are more “low-cost producers“. In order to be sustainable, the profitable producer knows that productivity is vital to any successful operation.
Increase forage production for feed.
Forages are the building block for any successful cattle operation. Any truly profitable cattle operation will use forages as the base of its nutrition program.
If managed correctly, forages can provide most of the nutrients your cattle will need with minimal supplementation. When there are enough excellent quality forages for your cattle to consume, then being profitable will come easier. But how can you increase your forage production?
The beginning step in increasing forage production is doing a soil test. A soil test, more than other tests, can affect the economic efficiency of your forage production. When you know what nutrients your plants need, you can then fertilize and lime as needed to ensure good yields in your pasture. To learn more about soil tests then, check out a previous article of mine, “Don’t hold back your soil test.”
Weeds and stocking rates
Keeping weeds in check is critical in improving both qualities as well as the quantity of your forages. When there is too much competition from your more undesirable plants, overall productivity will suffer. When weeds are allowed to take over a pasture, your land’s overall grazing capability will decrease.
The stocking rate may not go with forage production, but I assure you it does. Some producers may think that they have a specific stocking rate, but their land’s carrying capacity is much lower. Things like rocks and bare spots can affect your stocking rate. It is for the sake of not overgrazing and damaging your pasture forage production that you need to know your real stocking rate. I talk about finding out what your real stocking rate is in the article “Estimating your grazeable acreage.”
Another part of this step is realizing that improving your overall forage production is an investment rather than a one-and-done thing. You will likely see results after some time, but if you do it right, you will see an improvement in your bottom line.
Test your forages
Knowing the kinds and amounts of nutrients your forages provide is valuable information. With this knowledge, you can make better decisions on what types of supplements, if any, are needed.
Because forage quality will change based on the time of year, you will need to do this test at different times. Doing it that way will give you a good idea of what your forages are providing during certain times. Once you know this, you can then make better decisions on the supplements you may need to “fill in the gaps” in your cattle’s nutrient requirements.
When you are testing the hay bales that you will be feeding, it is crucial that you divide the bales into lots. Once the criteria are set, separate them based on the cutting they came from. 1st cutting hay will have better nutrients available over, say, 3rd cutting simply because of the stage of forage production. Also, when feeding, you will know what bales will require any additional supplements.
Trying to feed without a forage analysis is nothing more than guesswork. Sure, you may get it right every once in a while, a blind hog and all that, but more times than not, you will be spending money on supplements that you may not even need.
Minimize hay waste
Hay can represent the single most significant feed cost for a cow producer, not just the hay itself. You also have to consider the equipment prices, fuel, and fertilizer. Hay can cost between $0.02 and $0.07 per pound of dry matter. That can be more than double the cost of other sources.
How you store and feed the hay will play a role in reducing any potential waste. According to a study done by Oklahoma State, losses during storage can get up to 50% of the dry matter of the bale.
When feeding that bale of hay, how you do it will determine the amount of waste that will occur; when providing, you will want to place it in some kind of rack, such as a hay ring. Being in a rack will keep the battle from walking all over it or dropping feces on it, making it useless. Studies have shown that not using a type of rack for hay can lead to losses of up to 40% of the bale.
Track your feed costs.
Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to completely eliminate supplements if you want to be an efficient cattle producer. Since you will not be able to drop this down to 0, it is vital that you keep track of what you are spending your money on.
By keeping a record of the supplements that you are buying, you will be able to identify if there are any patterns that happen to occur. Any patterns outside of weather conditions might be an indication that you have a problem that needs to be corrected. It could be that you need to improve your forage production or look for better-quality hay.
By keeping track of your feed purchases, you can predict when it is that you will need supplements beforehand. By having that information, you can then pre-contract your feed purchases with your chosen supplier. In many cases, you can get them at a discount.
