If you are raising beef cattle, you will have to take steps to ensure that they are fed a balanced diet that contains the necessary nutrients. One way to do this is to formulate a ration. This will help you monitor the nutritional status of your beef cattle and will allow you to calculate the amount of feed you will need to purchase.
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Calculate the amount of feed required for an identified animal
When planning to raise a beef cow, the calorie count and nutritional content of the feed are important considerations. To calculate the amount of feed required for beef cattle, first measure the total body weight of the animal. This will allow you to figure out how many pounds of feed per day to feed your herd. The number can be rounded up or down depending on your herd size.
It’s not surprising that many livestock producers would like to know how much feed to feed their cattle. Fortunately, there are a variety of tools to help. For starters, there are dry matter demand tables that will help you to figure out how much hay and grain your herd needs.
In the real world, there are other factors that need to be considered before making a decision. For instance, do you have enough space for your herd? Do you have a safe place for them to roam? A well-rounded livestock operation includes proper housing and vaccinations, but it’s also about controlling unwanted movement.
Formulate a ration for wintering calves
If you are feeding cattle in winter, you will need to formulate a ration that will keep the animal in condition. The nutrient content of the hay and grain you use will determine how much your cows consume.
According to John Paterson, a Montana State University beef specialist, the most important factor in developing a ration is getting the right mix of nutrients. He recommends balancing a ration to provide the best cost and quality combination.
Developing a good ration for wintering cattle requires a balance of nutrients for energy, vitamins and minerals. A straw-based ration can be balanced with a mineral/vitamin premix to add to the nutritional value of the forage.
An example ration for a 500-pound calf would be one with a ten percent crude protein level. This is still well below the protein requirement for a 500-pound calf.
A straw-based ration can be supplemented with a protein supplement. In Oklahoma trials, two pounds of a pelleted 30 to 40 percent protein supplement was found to be sufficient for calves going to wheat pasture.
Monitor the mineral status of beef cattle
Minerals are critical to the health and performance of beef cattle. Managing the daily intake of these minerals is a constant challenge. Fortunately, there are several management strategies to help ensure that your cattle get the mineral they need.
The first step is to monitor the mineral status of your cattle. If they are not getting the minerals they need, it can be very difficult to diagnose the cause. In addition, mineral deficiencies can affect the growth, reproduction, and profitability of your herd.
There are two main types of mineral deficiencies. Primary mineral deficiency occurs when the livestock consume forages that are deficient in magnesium, zinc, or copper. Secondary mineral deficiency occurs when the animals consume mineral antagonists, such as sulfur.
Salt is often the first factor to limit mineral intake. Salt-deprived cattle are more likely to eat dirt, wood, and other mineral-rich material.
Another way to control the amount of minerals consumed is to feed salt-mineral mixtures. Mixtures should contain at least 15 percent salt.
Consider forward contracting
Many livestock producers have found that forward contracting allows them to lock in prices for their cattle. This helps to reduce price risk and improve margins. It may also help them deal with higher prices in some years.
When you choose to use a forward contract, you are entering into a legal agreement that guarantees that the purchase and sale will occur at a specified time and place. The terms of the contract are important to understand. In addition, there are different types of contracts available.
Some of the most popular types of forward contracts are based on the futures market. These contracts offer a guaranteed price based on the futures price and exchange rate. Other contracts are based on a non-futures price or independent price. Depending on your requirements, you can choose to forward contract feeder or slaughter cattle.
There are many factors to consider when forward contracting beef cattle. First, you should understand what is meant by a basis. A basis is the amount of money that a buyer is offering to pay to a seller.
