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Tag: Livestock Nutrition
How to Develop a Cattle Herd Diet Plan
How to Develop a Cattle Diet Plan for Your Herd |
| (SAINT JOSEPH, Mo., July 3, 2024) Raising cattle isn’t as simple as it once was. Generations ago, our great grandparents likely bought some cows from the neighbor, purchased a bull from another neighbor and hoped for the best. Their cattle diet plan probably didn’t exist, as they fed the feedstuffs that they raised on their farm – corn and hay.
Today, you invest in quality genetics. In order to optimize those genetics, you need to provide a quality nutrition plan. It needs to include more than turning the herd out to grass and giving them a salt block or two. Developing a cattle diet plan involves several key steps to ensure that the nutritional needs of the cattle are met for optimal growth, health and productivity. 6 Steps to Develop an Effect Cattle Diet Plan
The expert team at VitaFerm® wants you to succeed in cattle production. That is why we’ve developed this simplified approach to develop an effective cattle diet plan. Throughout the process, if you have specific questions, we encourage you to seek out your local BioZyme® dealer or Area Sales Manager or speak with a ruminant nutritionist with your specific questions. 1. Understand the Nutritional RequirementsKnowing and understanding what to feed cows is a vitally important step to your nutritional success. Here is an abbreviated rundown of the essential nutrients your herd needs to thrive. Energy Cattle need energy for maintenance, growth, reproduction and lactation. Energy is usually provided by carbohydrates and fats. Protein Essential for growth, reproduction and lactation. Protein requirements vary with age, weight and production stage. Vitamins and Minerals Critical for various bodily functions, including immune response and bone development. Important minerals include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and trace minerals like copper, zinc and selenium. Water Ensure constant access to clean, fresh water. Water intake is crucial for digestion and overall health. 2. Assess the Cattle’s NeedsYour herd’s nutritional needs will be largely dependent on the reproductive phase they are entering. Take this into consideration as you create your cattle diet plan. Stage of Production Nutritional needs for your beef cattle are often the highest during the final weeks of gestation and lactation. Determine if the cattle are in the growing, finishing, lactating or maintenance stage. Body Condition Evaluate the body condition score (BCS) of the cattle to determine their current nutritional status. Ideally, your herd will be in the “just right” range of 5 to 6. Breed & Age Nutritional needs can vary based on breed and age. Breeds that are known as heavier milkers will require more nutrients. Likewise younger heifers are still developing, and those older cows will also need feedstuffs with a higher nutritional value. 3. Analyze Available Feed ResourcesForage Quality Test the quality of available forage (hay, silage, pasture) for nutrient content. You cannot tell forage quality only by outward appearance. BioZyme offers complimentary forage testing for its customers. Once your forage analysis is received and the results are ready, our staff nutritionists work with you to make recommendations for your cattle diet plan. Grains & Supplements Evaluate the quality and nutritional content of grains and supplements available. Once you know the quality of the forages you are feeding, you gain a better understanding of the kind of grains and supplements you need to supplement with. Supplement any nutrients that your forage is lacking, and if unsure, always consult with a nutritionist. 4. Formulate the DietBase Diet on Forage Forage should be the foundation of the diet. High-quality forage can meet most of the nutritional needs. However, we cannot emphasize the importance of forage testing enough. A complete analysis will assist you in knowing what other nutrients you need to accompany it with. Supplement as Needed Add grains, protein supplements and mineral/vitamin premixes to fill any nutritional gaps. This is where the VitaFerm supplements can make a difference. VitaFerm is a line of nutritional supplements for beef cattle that maximize energy and forage utilization for successful production. VitaFerm is fueled by AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, a research-proven prebiotic designed to enhance digestibility. There is a VitaFerm mineral for every stage of production. Balance the Ration Use ration balancing software or consult with a livestock nutritionist to ensure the diet is balanced. This includes balancing energy, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. 5. Consider Feed AdditivesPrebiotics & Probiotics These can improve gut health and nutrient absorption. Amaferm, our research-proven prebiotic is the cornerstone ingredient to nearly every product we make due to the fact it helps keep the gut healthy. Since know that 70% of the immune response is found in the digestive tract, keeping the gut healthy is vital to keeping the entire animal healthy. 6. Monitor and Adjust the DietMonitor your herd’s diet regularly. Keep track of weight gain, body condition and overall health of the cattle. Make necessary adjustments to the diet based on performance and changes in forage quality or availability. Regular pasture checks to monitor water tanks, mineral feeders and forages are a good idea, especially in big country areas, where pastures are spread out. BioZyme Products are Research ProvenNow that you are more familiar with formulating your cattle diet plan, don’t forget to include the Amaferm! Amaferm is the key additive in all VitaFerm products. It has more than 111 published and/or presented research studies proving its increase in digestibility and, ultimately, its impact on the animal. Providing a high-quality trace mineral and vitamin supplementation like VitaFerm Concept•Aid is research-proven to improve reproductive efficiency. For example, our reproductive success report shows that VitaFerm Concept•Aid has proven itself as an industry leader in fertility support. Its ability to improve pregnancy rates, calving percentages, and weaning weights is unmatched by other brand products. Get Your VitaFerm TodayProviding the proper vitamins and minerals for cows is an important part of your cattle diet plan. At BioZyme, we give you options within the VitaFerm line. Not sure what to feed cows when it comes to the VitaFerm line? Check out our Concept•Aid Product Navigator. Get your VitaFerm products from an authorized BioZyme dealer today. Our extensive dealer network is here to help you meet mineral needs. Cattle Nutrition ExpertsVitaFerm® is an established brand of vitamin and mineral supplements designed to maximize energy and forage utilization for successful beef production. Our products support cattle producers looking to maximize their operations. And best of all, VitaFerm products ensure balanced nutrition for livestock. The VitaFerm brand is the flagship brand of BioZyme Inc., a leading fermentation company pioneering advancements in animal nutrition and health. Through innovative research and high-quality manufacturing, BioZyme creates powerful solutions that improve animal performance and support producer profitability in the agricultural industry. Our mission: undeniable positive impact on the health and wellness of your animals, and your business. About BioZyme® Inc.BioZyme Inc., founded in 1951, develops and manufactures natural, proprietary products focused on animal nutrition, health and microbiology. With a continued commitment to research, BioZyme offers a complete line of feed additives and high density, highly available vitamin, mineral, trace mineral and protein supplements for a variety of animals including cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats, horses and dogs. BioZyme brands include AO-Biotics,®, VitaFerm®, Gain Smart®, Sure Champ®, Vitalize®, DuraFerm® and Backyard Boost®. With headquarters in St. Joseph, Missouri, the company reaches a global market of customers that stretches into countries across five continents. For more information about BioZyme, visit www.biozymeinc.com. |
Article and images courtesy of VITAFERM®
August 2024
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Under Wraps- Keeping Your Investment Secure
Under Wraps- Keeping Your Investment Secure
The bale wrap industry has seen a variety of product evolutions and innovations over the years, all with the goal of helping producers establish a solid foundation for keeping their bale operations as effective and successful as possible considering the mitigating elements can affect bale quality including rodents, UV rays and precipitation.
For example, at Protexia, the company has worked closed with its manufacturer for more than 30 years, participating in various product development activities to enhance their products. According to Benjamin Omet, president at Protexia, they have recently worked on inventing a bird and rodent repellent bale wrap.
“The non-toxic (not a pesticide) additive present in the plastic acts as a deterrent for birds, mice, rats, raccoons and similar species,” Omet says. “We have gotten numerous awards and worldwide recognition specifically for this product.”
Protexia’s bale wrap films are a combination of high-quality virgin raw material. The stretch and mechanical characteristics of our films also includes a unique tack on the film, as Protexia makes its own glue in-house, specifically designed to withstand challenging outdoor weather for months.
“We do not use a pharmaceutical-grade glue, and the wrap will not peel out of the bale and create ‘tails’ flapping in the wind,” Omet says. “We only carry one brand – RaniWrap– and we add our proprietary repellent additive to RaniWrap.” They also offer three thicknesses: 0.9 mil, 1 mil, and 1.3 mil in five colors and four widths including 10,” 15,” 20,” 30”.
When producers are selecting a bale wrap, Omet says the main thing they need to consider is that the wrap needs to adapt to their specific operation. Do they inline wrap or do they individually wrap? Do they wrap round bales or square bales? Does the hay have really “pokey” or sharp stems? Also what part of the country are they in?
“If they are in the southern states, we would not recommend getting the black or green bale wraps, because the darker shades retain more heat, which in turn can diminish the nutritional value of the feed,” Omet says. “For sharper stems or big square bales, we recommend going to the 1.3 mil film, a bit stronger with less chances of ripping in the angles. On round bales, a 1 mil is usually the way to go, and on smaller, smoother rounds, a 0.9 mil can suffice. All rolls have mostly the same weight, so a thinner film will have more feet on every roll.”
Most manufacturers will highlight the number of layers that make the film, including monolayer, three layers, five layers, seven layers. As a rule of thumb, Omet says it’s important to remember that monolayer films have a stretch and tack capacity that will be much lower and forage producers will need to apply more plastic onto each bale to preserve them efficiently.
“The number of layers depends on the machine used to manufacture the film, but it does not say anything about the type of raw materials used,” Omet says. “To give you an example, there are hundreds of different grades of virgin polyethylene that could be of use to make the bale wrap.”
A key innovation in the bale wrap arena is the bird and rodent repellent wrap. For decades forage producers had no solution.
“Some farmers spray painted their wrapped bales, some prefer to stack their wrapped bales near a busy road so cars keep these pests away,” Omet says. “But the truth is they were at their mercy. If rats make a bunch of holes at the bottom of all bales, ruining their hay. The cost of plastic is cheap in comparison to what it protects. For roughly an extra $1 per bale (compared to a non-repellent wrap) you can have that extra protection. This is an inexpensive cost that all forage producers that use bale wrap should include, because the risks are just too big when it comes to losing a whole cut for example.”
Blue Lake Plastics also is a national distributor and retailer for a full range of net wrap products. The company also works directly with its manufacturers to make sure the company’s wrap products designs work for their customers and their equipment.
Chris Kerfeld, owner of Blue Lake Plastics says the key things a producer should keep in mind would be a good consistent product that works well in their equipment.
“Blue Lake Plastics has customers in all regions of the United States, our products are in testing in crops such as, alfalfa, grass, corn stover and soybean stover and cotton. Our products have to work well in all situations and conditions,” Kerfeld says. “Equipment manufacturers are constantly changing and updating their products. Blue Lake Plastics is also in contact with our manufacturers in keeping up with new technologies. Higher grade resins and netting designs are always on top of the list.”
As an Iowa farmer, Jay Gunderson, founder of ShurWrap experienced first-hand the challenges of baling corn stalk biomass. Gunderson sought a supplier to manufacture a net wrap that stretches tightly around bales and cuts off cleanly. This quest led to the origin of ShurWrap net wrap.
“The quality of the net wrap a producer chooses is very important. The net wrap they choose must meet their very specific needs until that they need to use the bale. It will vary based on what crop they are baling, how long they need the wrap to hold the bale together and what they need the bale for, such as feed or bedding. Producers want to choose a wrap that will hold the crop they are baling as some crops are harder to hold than others,” Gunderson says.
“A rancher or producer needs to determine what are the important qualities they’re looking for,” Gunderson says. “Identifying and prioritizing those qualities as part of the decision is very important. For many, it will likely come down to what is the best value for the individual’s operation, but making the decision based on the best value for price paid can be challenging.” Because ShurWrap recognized that net wrap is an important investment for producers. ShurWrap net wrap production guarantees roll lengths, to ensure producers are receiving what they are paying for. ShurWrap is available in 48″, 51″, 64″and 67” widths, and 7000’ – 11,800’ lengths and is formulated with U/V protection and is weather resistant.
ShurFilm bale film is a new high-performance, seven layer agristretch film. The formulation of ShurFilm is designed to be used under all conditions and is suitable for all types of wrappers. ShurFilm bale film is used for wrapping round and square high moisture bales primarily used for feed. This seven-layer product is ideal for use in changing temperature environments throughout the wrapping season with minimal adjustments to the wrapping equipment being used.
Experts agree that one of the most common mistakes producers make is to try to find the cheapest bale wrap. “They have to apply more wrap so they would have ended up saving money getting a higher quality plastic, or they try to apply the same and they have some mold issues,” Omet says.
Kerfeld agrees that if there is a common mistake that ranchers and producers make is making a decision based on price. “The old saying that ‘you get what you pay for’ still holds true,” Kerfeld says. “Good service and a product that is consistent in quality year in and year out is what Blue Lake Plastics uses as a business model. Those two simple rules are what made our company it is today, and will carry us into the future.”
May 2022