Determining the Daily Feed Consumption

As we discussed earlier one of the most critical aspects in the management and operation of the feedlot is the correct application of the correct amount of feed and correct blend of feed to the different groups of cattle in the different feed bunkers. All feedlots should therefore design and implement a process whereby they can easily and effectively differentiate between the different feed bunkers in the feedlot and the different requirements of each bunker.

By minimising digestive disorders, we can keep cattle on feed and maximise performance. Poor bunk management and not the feed ration being fed can be "the first domino to fall" resulting in digestive disturbances such as bloat, acidosis, and liver abscesses. Cattle feeders should strive to have the uniform day to day consumption of fresh, high-quality feed. The bunk management tools described below can aid in preventing large fluctuations in intake caused by acidosis and recovery from a bout of acidosis.

Determining how much feed to offer requires a certain amount of skill and good judgement. Cattle are big fermentation vats and fermentation vats work best under constant conditions. Careful bunk management during the winter months when is especially important since weather conditions alter consumption patterns.

Normally, if the score is zero for two consecutive days, you must increase the feed delivered to cattle by 5-10 percent. If the score is two or more, you must reduce the feed offered by 5-10 percent.

To accurately manage the different feed bunks a feed bunk sheet system should be in place for each feed bunk. A bunk sheet should have a place for a date, a pen of cattle, amount of feed delivered and a bunk score. A feeder should have at least 4 days of records whenever determining how much feed to put in the bunk.

Scoring bunks should be done at the same time each day. Looking back, the bunk score, combined with the amount of feed provided can tell you if intakes are going up, coming down or holding steady. Scores constantly in the 2 to 3 range may lead to feeding wastage and reduced feed efficiency due to the possibility of large fluctuations in feed intake.

In order to put together a feeding schedule for cattle, it is necessary to be informed about the requirements of animals and the properties of feeds that are available. In practice ignorance about feeds often leads to animals being fed either too much or too little with economic losses as a result. The most effective manner in which to determine the amount of feed needed accurately is by using a bunker scoring system as we discussed during previous sessions.

Recording daily consumption is important as this determines the amount of feed needed. Daily feed consumption is determined according to recent consumption. Monitoring and recording of consumption are therefore essential, enabling the producer to distribute correct amounts of feed. Feed calls should be made prior to the morning feeding, with two additional observations made during consumption of the first feeding and one in the afternoon feeding. Although the amount of feed offered never should be increased by more than 10%, decreasing feed offered by 10% might be warranted to ensure that cattle clean up feed remaining in the bunk before it spoils.

Feeding practices and time of feeding can also differ from feedlot to feedlot; commonly cattle will be fed in the morning and in the late afternoons with less feed being distributed in the afternoons if the morning’s ration was not finished. But some feedlot has found that daily DM (dry matter) intake can be increased during the winter months or colder periods by feeding cattle only once a day late in the afternoon. The reasons for this are not always clear and each feedlot manager should adjust his feeding practices and times to best suit his cattle.