You're running a farm and need to cut costs. How can you save money on livestock feed and supplements?

Les charges alimentaires sont les plus "lourds" pour un éleveur de bétail. Pour cela plusieurs alternatives peuvent être envisagées pour les minimiser * Profiter de la saison d'existence des matières premières en d'avoir son stock pour éviter l'obligation de la acheter pendant les périodes difficiles à des prix élevés * effectuer son propre mélange selon les besoins et la composition de troupeau (chaque catégories d'animaux a besoin d'un type précis d'aliment et d'apport alimentaire) * valoriser les sous produits disponibles (selon saison et la région) * Utiliser les outils de "smart farming" pour contr?ler le troupeau et l'exploitation

As we all know animal nutrition costs 70% of total Livestock farm cost. To cut overall production cost we have to reduce farm feed cost other than operational cost. First of all quality, quantity and price of each and every ingredients should be justifiable and reasonable on the basis of per liter milk and per kg meat cost. Nutritional profile of each ingredient, animal requirements, and stage of animal (Dry, milking, pregnant etc...) should be known so that feed formulation could be done accordingly. Animal should not be underfed and overfed. The best way to manage cost of ingredients is that make a feed store on farm and store each ingredient and supplements in season like maize and wheat straws are cheap in crop season.

Start by getting the right breeds for your environment ensure they have efficient feed conversation ratios, because you can formulate and cut costs on feed production, but if the animal is wasting then there is not much saving that's happening.

Purchasing feed raw materials in large quantities during the season of each material and preparing feed mixtures on the farm Renting the lands surrounding the farm and cultivating them with a green fodder mixture suitable for all age stages of the farm according to the program (care, growth, fattening, or milking) and using them as private pastures. Using medicinal plants to improve feed quality and herd health Reducing interaction with human labor and dispensing with it through robots designed to avoid human errors, reduce expenses, and increase productivity Organize work using ERP with dedicated interfaces to control workflow at all stages from a single control panel

Remove unproductive animals from the herd Optimize feeding Grow your feed at your farm Do on-farm feed formulations Proper animal health management practices Utilization of crop residues to feed animals

To save costs on livestock feeds, you can grow some of the raw materials used in making those feeds. For example, you can grow your own fodder for your ruminants, and you can grow your own maize, for your poultry. You can also source your feed by buying the raw materials in large quantities from crop producers at the time when the prices are cheaper or favorable in the market. For example, you can buy corn in large quantities and store it till the time of your feed formulation for your livestock.

The escalating costs and environmental impacts of conventional livestock feed sources necessitate exploring sustainable alternatives. One such alternative, gaining attention for its multifaceted benefits, is the incorporation of tree fodder into livestock diets. Incorporating tree fodder into (for example) cattle diets presents a viable pathway towards more sustainable livestock farming. This practice not only addresses the nutritional needs of cattle but also contributes to ecological health and farm resilience. As the agricultural sector grapples with challenges of sustainability and environmental stewardship, tree fodder emerges as a solution that aligns the health of livestock with the health of the land.

You can grow your own feed's bearing in mind the major categories of carbohydrates,proteins and vitamins. Consideration for bailing or silage processing can equally be done.

Growing your own supplies cannot be overstated. You're a farm, for crying out loud! You are the source for anything you need, all it takes is knowledge, planning, and practice. This works 2-fold because you not only solve your own problems but increase your potential for connection and increased revenue by implementing and teaching your solutions to others. Wild foraging livestock are also proven to be healthier and more resilient than those raised on conventional feed.

Cost Efficiency: Saves on purchasing commercial feeds. Quality Control: Ensures top-notch nutrition for healthier livestock and control on mycotoxins. Customization: Tailors feed to specific animal needs for optimal growth. Sustainability: Reduces carbon footprint, aligns with eco-friendly practices. Risk Mitigation: Minimizes supply chain disruptions.

If you offer a broad diversity of natural feed - such as tree fodder and herbs - to your animals, they will instinctively pick what they need most. This is especially true for any breed that is not highly hybridized and engineered.

You can buy raw materials, such as grains, soybeans, oilseeds, minerals, and vitamins, and blend them according to your livestock's specific requirements. You can use a feed mixer, a grinder, or a scale to measure and mix the ingredients. Mixing your own feed can give you more control over the quality, quantity, and cost of your feed.

Mixing your own feed guarantees quality assurance when it comes to ingredients and technique. Sourcing from local and neighboring suppliers allows you a stronger foothold in the industry as a collaborative partner. You can also experiment with different ingredients and fine-tune them to the needs of your livestock and soil ecology.

I am from New Zealand where one can grass feed livestock all year round. The carrying capacity of the land will determine the stocking rate. Regenerative farming practices create a diverse pasture which will help with livestock health and well being, also reduce the amount of fertiliser required.

Mixing your own feed is like being a chef for your animals. By purchasing high-quality ingredients and combining them yourself, you tailor the diet to specific needs and avoid the cost of pre-mixed feed. Also, keep an eye out for alternative, lower-cost but nutritious feed options, similar to shopping at a discount store.

Focus on preventive measures like vaccination and on husbandry to make sure you have a disease free healthy flock before you look at the change in the nutrition .

To save cost in production farms, I feel from my experience as an animal nutritionist that we need to source alternative local ingredients and also we can challenge our current nutritional specifications with low nutritional specifications. Thank you.

The cost of the feed is not on the raw material per se, but on the nutrient level inside the raw material. Make sure you're getting the right and precise values of the nutrient specification of the materials so you formulate it accurately and you maximize the nutrients in it that will lower down your feed cost. Precise feed formulation and precise feeding management will save you a lot of cost.

For animal farming, feeding costs around 70 percentage of total running cost. To reduce feeding cost, locally available byproducts should be considered first, then alternative cheap protein sources and finally, precise formulations to meet animals maintenance and production requirement.

The integration of tree fodder into cattle diets is driven by several compelling reasons. It offers a cost-effective solution to the rising expenses associated with traditional feed sources. Tree fodder contributes to ecological balance, promoting biodiversity and soil health. The nutritional profile of various tree species, rich in essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins, provides a comprehensive diet for cattle, potentially surpassing the nutritional value found in conventional forage. It has shown promising effects on animal health and meat quality as well.

A convers?o alimentar é um índice importante, mas n?o deve ser a mais baixa a qualquer custo. Em alguns momentos, pode ser vantajoso sacrificar alguns pontos de convers?o alimentar em detrimento da lucratividade, essa sim, determinante para o sucesso do negócio.

Use kg or liter of milk produced per kg dry matter fed. The same thing goes for growing up heifers. Group cows according to production and use different recipes for each stage of lactation. The same for growing up heifers.

In my experience soil is where it all begins, healthy soil will produce high nutritional pasture. Diverse multi-species pasture will produce high nutritional, healthy livestock. This method of farming will reduce health and fertiliser requirement's, reducing costs and increasing profits. The savings in costs will far outweigh any reduction in production as a farming system is transitioning to a natural regenerative state. It is not possible to have healthy soil if artificial fertiliser is being applied.

Growing diverse pasture/trees will provide a balanced diet for livestock. Becoming as self-sufficient as possible is the most economic method of running a farm. Adjusting the number of stock on ant given area of land to suit it's carrying capacity is likely to be more profitable and less stressful. As the soil improves, so will the diverse fodder produced improve, allowing an increase in carrying capacity.

Monitoring feed usage is key – it's like keeping track of what's in your fridge to prevent waste. Small daily savings can lead to significant reductions in costs over time. Remember, it’s not just about reducing expenses but also about smart spending. Investing in technology and staying informed about new methods can bring long-term savings and efficiency.

Nutritionists will always closely monitor cost developments in global feed commodities and specialties. However, making decisions based on cost alone could potentially impact the performance of your animals negatively. A better strategy would be to formulate diets with ingredients and additives designed to maximize production while improving health. Thus, focusing on a return on investment (ROI) rather than costs alone. For that to work out, nutritionists, veterinarians and production managers need to work closely together to identify goals and priorities, track data on performance and health and based on that evaluate the diet formulation. While cost is important, only in relation to ROI you can make a sound decision

Cutting costs is ‘easy’, but the real cost will be visible at the harvest. Taking cheaper ingredients and simplifying formulation to cut 10% of cost might reduce performance that will bring a 20% lower yield. My advice would be to make sure you gather all the possible know-how and listen to all suppliers who will be more than happy to share their ideas, but then choose your own strategy to optimize cost vs performance.

Hey #LinkedIn this is quite a general question for your community (maybe you want to consider improving the prompt for your AI generated questions). How about asking #farmers: - What innovative strategies do farmers adopt for cost-effective livestock nutrition?" - What are the challenges in incorporating innovative strategies into your farm? - Are you currently using supplements, and how has it impacted your bottom line? There are many case studies freely available on the www. How about asking farmers to share their success stories? Then you could ask real farmers: "what changes have you made on your farm after reading such #FarmSuccessStories, and what challenges have you encountered?"

It is important to distinguish between the total cost and production per unit of product. The most important aspect is optimizing the formulation to achieve reasonable performance. Instead of aiming for the best formulation, the focus should be on finding a formulation that is both suitable and cost-effective.

Bons pecuaristas s?o ótimos agricultores. Sendo assim, tudo aquilo que for economicamente viável de ser produzido dentro da fazenda, ou em terras arrendadas, deve ser prioridade em qualquer fazenda que se dedique à produ??o animal. Logicamente, o princípio de Pareto é evidente quando se trata de custos de alimenta??o na pecuária. Qualquer mudan?a de dieta que reduza custos sem perda de produtividade, acarretará em modifica??es significativas no custo geral da atividade. A redu??o do custo com alimenta??o precisa considerar a produtividade do animal. Indivíduos que n?o se alimentam como deveriam n?o produzem carne, leite ou l? como poderiam e n?o ir?o produzir como esperado ocasionando redu??o da margem, o que n?o faz sentido.