Feed costs remain the single most significant expense for any cattle producer. Depending on different factors, this expense can easily be half of the total annual expenses for a rancher.
Now, that amount can vary depending on the time of year and forage conditions. In a drought situation, feed costs can total 70% of the total yearly costs of raising cattle. It may seem challenging to reduce feed costs without sacrificing production.
Some would have no problem with that, but the profitable producer knows that productivity is the key to a successful operation. But all is not lost. There are five steps to reduce feed costs without sacrificing productivity.
Enhance pasture productivity
Forages are the building blocks for any successful cattle operation. When there are enough good-quality forages for your cattle to consume, it is easier to be profitable. But how can you increase your forage production?
The first step in increasing forage production is conducting a soil test. A soil test, more than others, affects the economic efficiency of your forage production. When you know what nutrients your plants need, you can fertilize and lime as needed to help ensure good yields in your pastures.
Keeping weeds in check is critical in improving both forage quantity and quality. When there is more competition from your more undesirable plants, productivity will improve. When weeds are allowed to take over a pasture, your land’s overall grazing capability will decrease. Not to mention that according to Jeff Clark with Corteva Agriscience, these weeds compete with forages for necessary moisture.
Some may think that their land has a certain stocking rate, but in reality, its carrying capacity is much lower than that. So, it is important to know your place’s “real” stocking rate. I discuss finding out what your real stocking rate is in a previous article, “Estimating your grazeable acreage.”
Another part of this step is realizing that improving overall forage production is an investment. You will not likely see results overnight, 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 that your forages provide is important. This knowledge can help you make better decisions about what type of supplements, if any, are needed.
Because forage quality will change based on the time of year, you must do this test at different times throughout the year. Doing this will give you a good idea of what your forages provide throughout the year. 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 essential that you divide them into lots. One criterion that you can use is to divide them based on the cutting that they come from. First-cutting hay will have better nutrients available than third-cutting hay simply because of the stage of forage production. Also, when feeding, you will know which 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 you may not even need.
Minimize hay feed waste.
Hay can represent the single largest feed cost for a cow producer, and this cost does not just include the hay itself. You also have to take into account the cost of the equipment used, fuel, and fertilizer. Hay costs between $0.02 and $0.07 per pound of dry matter, which 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 by Oklahoma State, losses during storage can amount to up to 50% of the total bale. I don’t know about you, but I do not have the money to end up with only half of my bale being any good.
The key thing to know is that you will want to keep the bales protected from the elements. This can be done by covering them with a tarp or placing them on a bed of gravel to improve drainage. If you are feeling really ambitious, you can even build a covered building to store them in. I mentioned the ways to store hay properly in a previous article, “5 rules for proper hay storage.”
How you feed a bale of hay will determine the amount of waste. You should place it in some kind of rack, such as a hay ring. Studies have shown that not using a type of rack for hay can lead to losses of up to 40% of the bale.
Select efficient cows
One way to reduce feed costs is to use genetics to select more efficient cows. Some cows have a genetic disposition to be more efficient than others.
The size of your cows will also affect total feed costs. Though it may be better to have larger cattle, they will require more feed. Maintenance energy can represent 70% to 75% of the total energy consumed. That means that larger sizes will require more feed to meet their basic requirements.
But larger cows mean more pounds when weaning, right? Researchers in Wisconsin have found that smaller cows can wean more pounds of calf per pound of feed. They also found that increasing the amount of feed that the larger cows consumed did not improve weaning weights.
With the recent advancements in genetic research, it is now easier than ever to select cows with the traits we want them to have. Looking at EPDs is an excellent place to start, but ultimately, it is up to you as the producer. If you keep good records, you can know which cows are more efficient than others and cull the ones that aren’t.
Extend your grazing season to reduce feed costs.
Finally, another way to reduce feed costs is to extend the grazing season. When cows can graze forages for longer, they will require fewer supplements.
To do this, you can incorporate cool-season grasses to extend the grazing season by 60 to 90 days to late fall or even early winter. Knowing which perennials will work best for your particular climate is good when deciding what perennials to go with. A grass will do you no good if it will not grow where you are. Legumes are an excellent all-around choice that you can look into.
Timing is the key when planning on using either cool-season or warm-season grass. It would be best if you went with one that will go into high production around the same time the one you usually use starts declining in quality. Your local seed supplier will be a good source of information on this subject.
