Upload
kathlyn-randall
View
215
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Basic principles & decisions Basic principles of maximising feed intake Feeding systems: Conventional versus TMR Cattle feed decisions
◦ Individual animal groups◦ Target performance◦ Feed cost & budgets
Getting winter feeding decisions right:
Improves animal performanceReduces days to slaughterCuts production cost £££££
Lots of things impact on winter feeding decisions:
Cattle weight & stage of production Calving system Cow condition Silage availability & quality Price of concentrate Cattle market value
Basic Decisions
The five freedoms are:
++ Freedom from hunger and thirst
++ Freedom from discomfort
++ Freedom from pain, injury and disease
++ Freedom to express normal behaviour
++ Freedom from fear and distress
Maximising dry matter intake is key to achieving high animal performance
Present fresh palatable feed.Have water available at all timesProvide adequate feed spaceProvide adequate lying spaceProvide a dry lying area
A well designed and managed feed area can be as important as what is fed
Very smooth clean surfaceEating surface 10cm above hoof heightClean out refused food regularlySite water trough to avoid feed being splashed
Rub marks on neck rails – shows wrong position
Pro’s:
•Flexibility•Inclusion of commodities•Reduced feed space requirement•Acidosis control•Mixing precision•Potential for improved feed efficiency – properly balanced rations•Utilisation of low quality forages
Con’s:
•Price•Operational costs (fuel, labour, wear)•Building and yard layout•Complicates feeding if a lot of feed groups
Pro’s• Low level mechanisation• Low operating cost• Simple management of different feed groups
Con’s• Physical input• Potentially lower feed precision• Potentially higher feed waste
Silage quality
Winter gain (kg/d)
Grazing gain (kg/d)
Gain/year (kg)
Feed cost/kg (p)
Poor 0.0 1.2 220 95
Average 0.5 1.0 275 83
Good 0.8 0.8 290 98
It is important to find a balance between animal performance and cost of production.
Silage quality Average daily gain (kg/d)
Poor 0.00
Average 0.35
Good 0.55
Good (high dry matter) 0.70
Need to be careful with a no-meal strategy
Silage Quality Silage Fed (Kg)
Concentrate (Kg)
Daily Feed Cost (£/day)
Good 23 - 0.57
Average 21 0.8 0.70
Poor 16 2.5 0.90
Assume: Silage £25/t, Concentrate £200/t
300kg Ch store bullock◦ Output◦ 180 day housed @ 0.6kg/day = 108kg ◦ 108kg + 300kg = 408kg at turnout
◦ Cost ◦ 21kg silage + 0.8kg meal = £0.70/day x 180days◦ Vet, Med & Misc = £20◦ Interest (6%) = £25
= £171
◦ If worth £750 (£2.50/kg) in Sept 2014◦ Need £921 (£2.26) in March 2015 to break even◦ Need £1011 (£2.48) in March 2015 to get £15/month
Store ration (kg/t)Store ration (kg/t)
Maize glutenMaize gluten 450450Rolled barley Rolled barley 200 200 Soya hullsSoya hulls 200200Maize Distillers Maize Distillers 100100MolafermMolaferm 25 25 Minerals Minerals 25 25
ME 11, CP 16 as fedME 11, CP 16 as fed£180/t£180/t
Front load concentrates Better to overshoot target early, rather than
later in winter No meal for at least 1 month pre-turnout Aim for turnout as soon as ground conditions
permit
Growing to finishing – the big change!Timing is the key to changing successfully from the growing to the finishing ration.
Target Days on Finishing
ration
Daily Liveweight Gain (kg)
Feed PeriodGain (kg)
Continental 80 – 100 1.2 - 1.5 120 – 150
Traditional 60 – 80 1.0 - 1.4 80 - 90
Silage Quality Silage Fed (Kg)
Concentrate (Kg)
Daily Feed Cost (£/day)
Good 22 4.5 1.45
Average 20.0 5.5 1.60
Poor 15.0 7.0 1.77
Assume: Silage £25/t, Concentrate £200/t
Finishing ration (kg/t)Finishing ration (kg/t)
Maize meal Maize meal 300300Barley Barley 250 250 Maize Distillers Maize Distillers 150150Rapeseed mealRapeseed meal 125125Citrus pulp Citrus pulp 100100Molasses Molasses 50 50 Minerals Minerals 25 25
ME 11, CP 13% as fedME 11, CP 13% as fed£200/t£200/t
Diet 1:
20kg Average Silage 5.5 kg Concentrate
Diet 2:
5kg Silage 3kg Concentrate 3kg Wholecrop wheat 3kg Bread 5kg Potatoes 2kg Straw 1Kg Molasses
Both Diets deliver the same level of feed energy and output
500kg steer @ 1.90/kg = £950
100 day feed period20kg silage + 5.5kg Conc. = £1.60/day x 100 days = £160Veterinary & Miscellaneous = £35 £195
Total Cost = £950 + £195 = £1145
620kg @ 55% KO = 341kg341kg @ 350p = £1193Total costs = £1145Margin = £48Margin/month = £15
Sensitivity Analysis:
+/- 10p/kg beef price = £34 per head
You have 30 Aberdeen Angus cross heifers on the farm as housing time approaches. They have an average weight of 450kg.
What are you going to do with them?
Silage Quality Silage Fed (Kg)
Concentrate (Kg)
Daily Feed Cost (£/day)
Good 29 - 0.73
Average 32 - 0.80
Poor 36 - 0.90
Assume: Silage £25/t, Concentrate £200/t
Important: Ensure sufficient feed space when restricting silage
Cow Condition Silage Fed (Kg)
Concentrate (Kg)
Daily Feed Cost (£/day)
High (4) 24 - 0.60
Good (3) 32 - 0.80
Low (2) 40 - 1.00
Assume: Average Quality Silage £25/t, Concentrate £200/t
Important: Ensure sufficient feed space when restricting silage
Silage Quality Silage Fed (Kg)
Concentrate (Kg)
Daily Feed Cost (£/day)
Good 45 - 1.12
Average 40 2.0 1.40
Poor 33 4.0 1.62
Assume: Silage £25/t, Concentrate £200/t