Feed is a major cost in all beef production systems, looking at ways to improve feed efficiency will improve margins and increase profit. The sector is under pressure to become more efficient and reduce its carbon footprint. Improving feed efficiency, animal health and hitting Key Performance Indicators will not only deliver increased profits but will also reduce waste and reduce your Co2 per kilo of meat produced.
Genetic and environmental factors all influence feed conversion efficiency (FCE), environment factors and nutrition improvements can be achieved far faster than genetic changes.
Here are some easy wins to target and reduce animal stress, increase FCE and help to reduce Co2 per kilo of meat produced.
Gender
In general, bulls are more efficient than steers which are more efficient than heifers even when fed the same diet.
Animal housing
Ensure cattle have adequate: Floor Space, Bedding, Feed Space, Water, Ventilation, Hygiene and Lighting.
Liveweight Versus Growth
As an animal get heavier and older its feed efficiency reduces. This is because an increasing proportion of the energy goes towards maintenance rather than production compared to lighter, younger faster growing animals.
Animal health
- Common problems like worm burdens, pneumonia, laminitis and SARA will all reduce intake and depress performance.
- Biosecurity is vital, take measures avoid buying in disease problems.
- Herd health planning with your vet will enable a proactive approach and reduce risk factors significantly.
Stress
- Avoid mixing cattle of different age and size to minimise bullying and spread of disease.
- Manage group sizes and movements between groups carefully.
- Ensure feed and water is always available and fresh.
- Ensure good ventilation.
- Do not over crowd.
Nutrition
- Manage ration formulation incorporating energy sources from starch and balanced with protein sources to maximise rumen microbial population.
- Maximise intake by improved ration presentation.
- Ensure sufficient fibre in the diet, which is important for rumen health. Long structural fibre such as wheat straw in very important in intensive finishing rations and providing a source of digestible fibre such as sugar beet or soya hulls.
Feed management
- Attention to detail when mixing ingredients.
- Feed fresh daily.
- Remove refusals daily.
- Remove any mouldy or heating feed.
Transition management
Transition management in cattle can mean a number of different situations but in the beef systems it usually occurs when cattle are moved from one unit to another and/or change in diet, from a growing ration to a finishing ration. This is a significant change in the diet formulation and if not managed appropriately can lead to period of reduced growth rate and performance, as the rumen adapts to the new diet and cattle to their new environment.
Changing to a finishing ration can mean a significant change in the diet, they generally contain more starch, lower protein and less forage. This all has an impact on the rumen and increases rumen acidity, rumen microbial population needs to change from being based on fibre digesting bacteria to starch-digesting population.
For further information on maximising your beef herd, please speak to your local NWF Sales Specialist or call 0800 756 2787.
