A benefit for both the full-time and “part-time” rancher is that a protein tub can improve the overall grazing in a pasture. You can move them into more underutilized areas to encourage cattle to move to those areas.
With making any type of investment, it is prudent that you do your homework before you make any decision. So before you run off to the local feed store, I have five things you can look at before you buy your first protein tub.
Step #1: Do I even need a protein tub?
This question may seem like a pretty “duh” question to most of us, but some people out there do not even consider if they need it before buying one. So before dropping a nice chunk of change, you must figure out if a protein tub is even required.
An excellent way to determine if supplements are needed is by doing a forage analysis. The forage analysis will tell you what types of nutrients and in what quantities your forages are providing.
The overall quality of your forages is another factor you should consider. Like currently, here in Texas, we have been dry for most of the year, so using a protein tub is necessary. So along with forage analysis, looking at your sheer amount is another good idea.
Once you have determined what amounts of nutrition your forages provide, you should look at your cattle’s nutritional needs. The stage of production your cattle are in will determine what they will need. An example of this is that a cow in late gestation will have completely different needs than a dry one.
Once you have all of this information, it is time to do some math work. You will take what is being provided and what the nutritional needs are; if there is a deficit, then you will need to provide a supplement.
Step#2: What does the protein cost per lb.
A problem that most people follow is that they need to use an accurate way of comparison. You will need to break it down per lb to get a precise comparison. One product may seem like it is more expensive, but when you break it down to a cost per unit of what you need, it can turn out to be cheaper than the other.
A formula you can use to determine this is like what I used in a previous post, “What is that Hay bale worth?”. I will use the formula to determine the cost per unit of protein, but you can use it to find other things.
A benefit of protein tubs is that they are very, very low in moisture due to their manufacturing, so you won’t necessarily have to find out what the unit per dry matter is. A formula that can use is this:
Cost of the protein tub / % Protein= Cost per unit of protein
When you have the numbers from the formula, you can more accurately compare “apples to apples.”
Step#3: Where do the minerals come from?
The source of the minerals is also essential to look at when looking at protein tubs. Where the minerals come from will determine how well they will be absorbed when it is consumed.
A usual comparison that you will find is chelated vs. non-chelated minerals.
Chelated
- bound to a chelated agent, organic compounds, or amino acids
- typically tend to be more expensive
- and can be recognized by the terms “proteinate or amino acid chelate.”
- allow for better absorption and utilization
Non-chelated
- It can be identified by the term “oxide,” “chloride,” or “sulfate.”
- tend to be a less expensive form (which makes it the most common choice with feed producers)
- Not as well absorbed as chelated, especially with animals under stressful conditions, the more common types of minerals that you will find
Step#4: Will the protein tub have IGR?
Depending on the type of year when you are providing a protein tub, you may need to have one with IGR. This acronym stands for the Insect growth regulator, which controls flies around your cattle.
When the cattle consume the supplement with this additive, it doesn’t affect the cattle in any way, so that they will pass it along in the manure. While it is there, flies will place eggs in the feces, and as the larvae grow, the IGR chemical will prevent the larvae from getting past a particular stage.
When it comes to using IGR in your protein tubs, timing is of the utmost importance. It is recommended to start feeding it 30 days before the emergence of the flies. The fly emergence is usually in early spring when the temperatures begin to get in the 60s. An example is here in Texas, usually in the middle of March.
Once you have started feeding this, you must keep feeding the IGR throughout the year. In order to be most effective, you will keep providing it till 30 days after the 1st frost of the year.
Step#5: What size protein tub do I need?
Now that you have done the “math homework” and have come to the decision that you will need to use protein tubs for your place. Now you must determine how large of a tub you will need.
A lot of this comes down to the number of cattle you supplement. The size of the cattle also plays a role in this decision.
A general rule of thumb is that you must have one tub per 25 heads of cattle. This general rule is relatively easy and fast, but we must consider the consumption rates.
Another thing to look at is what kind of equipment you can use. Protein tubs range from around 40 lbs. up to 250 lbs. If you do not have a tractor or skid steer to move the tubs around, it may be better to go with the lighter ones (unless you want to ruin your back).