When choosing a concentrate ration to feed over winter, do you just go for an off-the-shelf feed, or do you discuss with your feed rep what is the best product for your livestock?
There is no one cattle ration that does it all. Finishing cattle have different nutritional requirements to lactating cows and young calves.
Another reason to enquire about the ration is down to the ingredients used and the inclusion rates.
Most merchants alter inclusion rates of ingredients, depending on spot market prices, or may use some lower-quality ingredients as a cheaper alternative.
This helps to control the final sale price of a ration. While this can make some rations look extremely competitive, they may not be the most appropriate choice to supply what cattle need.
Preference
When it comes to choosing a either blend or pellet, it’s a preference choice. Some farmers do not like blends as they can be dusty and cattle can sort through ingredients more.
Pelleted nuts tend to be more expensive due to the additional manufacturing process. But they can be easily stored and there is no sorting when fed.
Outlined are five things to consider when purchasing a cattle ration.
1 Energy for finishing cattle
Finishing cattle require higher energy levels and lower protein to put on fat cover. Starch levels are also more important for finishing cattle. This aids cattle to put on fat, rather than lean tissue.
Note that the energy content in a finishing ration is measured in UFV, rather than the UFL units used in growing rations. The higher the number, the more energy in the ration.
Target a ration around 0.92 to 0.95 UFV (12.5 to 13 Mj ME) and keep protein levels to approximately 12% to 13%.
High-energy feeds should contain around 50% to 70% cereal content, mainly rolled barley, wheat and maize. Starch contents should be around 35% to 38%.
In the case of young continental bulls, rations may be as high as 80% to 90% cereal content. However, as the cereal content increases above 50%, so does the risk of acidosis.
Therefore, make sure that the ration is properly formulated and feed plenty of roughage such as straw, or silage. Also, consider using an acid buffer, or yeast, to avoid digestive upsets in the rumen.
2 Protein for growing cattle and lactating cows
For growing cattle and lactating cows, protein will drive milk production and weight gain. But as protein levels increase, so does the cost.
Ideally, choose a ration with soya bean as the main protein source. Distillers, maize gluten and rape seed meal are also good-quality ingredients to include.
Energy is also important, so aim for a ration with at least 0.95 UFL, which is different to a finishing ration were energy is measured as UFV.
Although cattle will be fed silage, or straw, along with concentrates, it is still important to source a ration with good rumen degradable fibre as this helps prevent digestive upsets such as acidosis.
The fibre content in a ration is particularly important for finishing cattle on high levels of concentrates, or ad-lib systems.
Ingredients which are a good source of digestible fibre include soya hulls, sugar beet pulp and citrus pulp. Aim for at least 10% of the ration to include a good fibre ingredient.
4 Pay attention to the list of ingredients
Look at the list of ingredients included in the ration. They are usually listed in order of inclusion, ie the ingredients listed first will be included at the highest rate.
Therefore, it is a good way to gauge the quality of a ration. Look for barley, maize, soya, distillers, hulls, beet pulp and gluten to be listed as early as possible on the label.
A simple ration with around four key straights is often a better choice than a more complex mix with a multitude of ingredients.
All cattle rations should include trace minerals and vitamins, regardless of how long they will be housed.
A lack of trace elements will hinder growth rates and as winter forages such as straw, and moderate to low quality silage are low in minerals.
Read more
How much Polish meat do we import?
Beef prices: Irish beef prices falling behind
When choosing a concentrate ration to feed over winter, do you just go for an off-the-shelf feed, or do you discuss with your feed rep what is the best product for your livestock?
There is no one cattle ration that does it all. Finishing cattle have different nutritional requirements to lactating cows and young calves.
Another reason to enquire about the ration is down to the ingredients used and the inclusion rates.
Most merchants alter inclusion rates of ingredients, depending on spot market prices, or may use some lower-quality ingredients as a cheaper alternative.
This helps to control the final sale price of a ration. While this can make some rations look extremely competitive, they may not be the most appropriate choice to supply what cattle need.
Preference
When it comes to choosing a either blend or pellet, it’s a preference choice. Some farmers do not like blends as they can be dusty and cattle can sort through ingredients more.
Pelleted nuts tend to be more expensive due to the additional manufacturing process. But they can be easily stored and there is no sorting when fed.
Outlined are five things to consider when purchasing a cattle ration.
1 Energy for finishing cattle
Finishing cattle require higher energy levels and lower protein to put on fat cover. Starch levels are also more important for finishing cattle. This aids cattle to put on fat, rather than lean tissue.
Note that the energy content in a finishing ration is measured in UFV, rather than the UFL units used in growing rations. The higher the number, the more energy in the ration.
Target a ration around 0.92 to 0.95 UFV (12.5 to 13 Mj ME) and keep protein levels to approximately 12% to 13%.
High-energy feeds should contain around 50% to 70% cereal content, mainly rolled barley, wheat and maize. Starch contents should be around 35% to 38%.
In the case of young continental bulls, rations may be as high as 80% to 90% cereal content. However, as the cereal content increases above 50%, so does the risk of acidosis.
Therefore, make sure that the ration is properly formulated and feed plenty of roughage such as straw, or silage. Also, consider using an acid buffer, or yeast, to avoid digestive upsets in the rumen.
2 Protein for growing cattle and lactating cows
For growing cattle and lactating cows, protein will drive milk production and weight gain. But as protein levels increase, so does the cost.
Ideally, choose a ration with soya bean as the main protein source. Distillers, maize gluten and rape seed meal are also good-quality ingredients to include.
Energy is also important, so aim for a ration with at least 0.95 UFL, which is different to a finishing ration were energy is measured as UFV.
Although cattle will be fed silage, or straw, along with concentrates, it is still important to source a ration with good rumen degradable fibre as this helps prevent digestive upsets such as acidosis.
The fibre content in a ration is particularly important for finishing cattle on high levels of concentrates, or ad-lib systems.
Ingredients which are a good source of digestible fibre include soya hulls, sugar beet pulp and citrus pulp. Aim for at least 10% of the ration to include a good fibre ingredient.
4 Pay attention to the list of ingredients
Look at the list of ingredients included in the ration. They are usually listed in order of inclusion, ie the ingredients listed first will be included at the highest rate.
Therefore, it is a good way to gauge the quality of a ration. Look for barley, maize, soya, distillers, hulls, beet pulp and gluten to be listed as early as possible on the label.
A simple ration with around four key straights is often a better choice than a more complex mix with a multitude of ingredients.
All cattle rations should include trace minerals and vitamins, regardless of how long they will be housed.
A lack of trace elements will hinder growth rates and as winter forages such as straw, and moderate to low quality silage are low in minerals.
Read more
How much Polish meat do we import?
Beef prices: Irish beef prices falling behind
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