Feed Records

Recording the Ingredients Mixed into the Feeds:

No feedlot manager or operator will be able to make decisions about the adjustment of feeding practices without the necessary information being available to him or her. The only way in which the necessary information can be gathered is through the implementation of a thorough and well-managed recordkeeping system.

Effective feed bunk management is a key component in accomplishing the goals of any cattle feeding program.

It is therefore important that the correct bunker location and the practices applicable to the feed bunk are accurately recorded to carry out the three Rs.

Only through analysing the records and scoring system of each bunker can a feedlot manager then decide where to adjust feeding practices to optimise results.

The success of feedlot practices is dependent on various factors from the quality of ingredients used to feed the cattle to the amount of feed supplied and the times at which the feed is supplied. Other external factors can also have an effect on the feeding patterns of cattle, such as climatic conditions and so forth. Only through the collection of complete and intensive records and the capturing of these records will a feedlot manager or operator be able to make informed and well thought out decisions concerning the operation of his feedlot.

It is important that a feedlot manager have the ability to predict the effect that certain changes in practices will have on the performance of the feedlot. The effects that change in feed ingredients, such as the seasonal availability of certain concentrates, must be judged beforehand in order to determine the effect that these changes will have on the profitability of the enterprise. The only manner in which the feedlot operator or manager is able to make these predictions is through the analysis of records and the compilation of historical data obtained from these records.

Discharged Volumes/Mass Of Mixed Feed Is Determined According To Procedure

Making the feed calls or determining the amount of feed to offer involves estimating the amount of feed a pen of cattle will consume in a 24-hour period. Therefore, the effect of a given feed intake at subsequent feedings must be considered. As we discussed earlier a well thought out and implemented scoring system can help determine the amount of feed needed per bunker, but results must be measured over a period of time.

For example, cattle might consume all of the rations offered just after an increase in the amount fed but lose appetite and crash a day or two later. When this type of situation occurs, cattle will have periods of overeating, which may result in acidosis or a sub-acute rumen acidosis condition, followed by a period of reduced feed intake while the rumen returns to a normal pH. However, this will be a continual process resulting in increased feed intake, followed by reduced feed intake. If given enough time the cattle will then return to normal feeding patterns with the increased food intake.

A feedlot operator should therefore always monitor the feed intake of the cattle and only adjust practices if a trend becomes visible over a period of time.

Recording the Amount of Feed To Animals

It is important that a record of loads discharged be accurately reported and recorded to maintain a correct feeding schedule. If the loads discharged into feeding bunkers are not recorded correctly it can lead to the wrong information being used to adjust the feeding practices.

Earlier in the guide, we looked at the importance of loading the correct amount of feed onto the feeding wagon when refilling the feed bunkers. If this practice is closely monitored and recorded the accuracy of the entire feeding process can be increased. Records of the amount of feed distributed to each bunker are another critical step in assuring that the success of feeding practices can be measured, and practices adjusted where necessary.

Failure to correctly record the amount of feed discharged into the feeding bunkers can lead to a feedlot manager or operator taking drastic steps. For example, a sudden loss of appetite can mean that cattle are sick or that the feed blend being used is of a poor quality forcing the feedlot manager to implement costly changes in the feed blend or scheduling treatment or vaccinations. If the seeming loss of appetite is only indicated due to the wrong information being recorded the feedlot can easily occur unnecessary expenses that can influence the ultimate profitability.

If the necessary information concerning the amount of feed discharged at each bunker is not recorded a feedlot operator or manager will not be able to make the adjustments to the feeding practices as needed. The livestock feedlot industry has become a highly skilled and competitive industry in which only the best feedlots are able to survive and flourish.

To ensure the survival and profitability of the feedlot a manager must be able to make well-thought-out and informed decisions and the only manner in which to accomplish this is by the design and implementation of a well-structured recordkeeping system. Going hand in hand with the recordkeeping system is the capturing and analysis of the data obtained from the records. The analysis and capturing of recorded data give the feedlot manager a tool that can be used to track trends and thereby measure the success of feed volumes and feed blend quality.

Stock Control of Feed Ingredients and Ordering Feed Ingredients

Any feedlot’s ultimate goal is to be profitable and sustainable. As with any other business, times will come when the market price places pressure on the profitability of the enterprise. This is a naturally occurring cycle and similar to nature this process eliminates the weak and identifies the strong.

A strong feedlot is a feedlot that keeps control of all the various elements that can have an effect on the quality of the cattle and the ultimate profitability of the enterprise. One of these factors that are a necessary but large expense for the feedlot is obtaining the ingredients used on the feed blends. As we discussed earlier these ingredients consist of a variety of elements from roughages to concentrates to additives such as vitamins and minerals.

In order to ensure that the feedlot does not undergo any unnecessary expenses and thereby negatively influence profitability strict control should be kept on these ingredients. The only effective manner in which to control the levels of the ingredients is to employ a well detailed and structured recordkeeping system where all the ingredients obtained and where the ingredients used can be captured.

A stock control system can help to ensure that the profitability of the feedlot improves and that the right ingredients are available when needed. To effectively develop a stock control system a feedlot manager should determine minimum and maximum stock control levels for each separate ingredient.

The setting of minimum and maximum stock levels helps in maintaining the quality of the stock as well as ensuring that the necessary ingredients are available for use when needed. Over ordering of stock can lead to ingredients deteriorating before use thereby leading to stock having to be destroyed or discarded. On the other hand, under ordering of stock can lead to ingredients not being available for blending when needed. The stock should be ordered once the stock level reaches the minimum level. The amount of stock ordered will be depended on the maximum stock level. So once the stock reaches the minimum level enough stock should be ordered to bring the stock levels up to the set maximum level.

Ensuring that the right ingredients are available at the right time in the right amounts goes a long way to ensuring that the feedlot can maintain its profitability.