Feed is The biggest expense in most cattle operations. Can a well-balanced ration that saves on feed costs be made?

Heather Gessner, a field specialist in livestock business management at South Dakota State University, says the feed nutrient comparison calculator by SDSU Extension was created for just that purpose: to help ranchers find savings in their feeding plan.

“When corn prices were high and hay was going through the roof during times of drought, we wanted ranchers to look at their feed rations and say, ‘OK, let’s move to a nutrient-based decision,’ ” Gessner says of how the calculator was created. “We can tie the nutrition components to either energy or protein, and add transportation costs to get it to our place.”

Gessner says putting all nutrients on the same playing field can help producers find places to save on their feed costs. “We compare it on a per-ton basis, as some feeds are bought by the ton or pound, and others are purchased on a hundredweight basis. By equalizing it, we can look at what it really costs my operation.”

How it works

While one feed may appear to be cheaper, Gessner says the calculator is a surefire way to ensure that ranchers are getting the most feed bang for their buck. “We may be able to get nutrients from a different source to our house cheaper,” she says.

The calculator is only as good as the information that’s put into it, so she recommends ranchers find the correct numbers.

“The data you put into the calculator is invaluable, because junk info in means junk info out,” she says. “You really have to put in your current freight charges, how many pounds you can actually get on the trailer, how many miles you haul it — everything.”

Gessner encourages producers to take special note of any distillers products used.

“Not all the plants produce the same product,” she says. “You want to really look at the nutrient composition of the feed stuff that you’re picking up and make sure to get those numbers right as well.”

Flexibility matters

While the calculator comes filled with generic data, Gessner says the flexibility of the tool allows producers to input actual data.

“These are the basic ones in there,” she says. “But if you’re in an area where you have access to beet pulp or if producers are down South and it’s cottonseed, they can compare those feeds in instead.”

She urges producers to customize numbers in the calculator, and calculate their specific costs to get the best benefit of the tool.

“Don’t just use my numbers; they are there for demonstration purposes,” she says. “Call the ethanol plant and ask for current prices and nutrient composition in order to find the price per ton delivered to your place.”

Each year could bring a different situation, so Gessner encourages an annual recalculation of nutrient costs.

“Depending on the forages you harvested that summer, you can figure out the nutrients you need to make a balanced ration,” she says. “A new soybean [processing] plant could go on line and have meal available close to home.

“Those are only examples of the changes that may occur year to year. And remember that just because something is cheap does not mean it is the most cost-effective after delivery.”

Find the calculator at SDSU Extension. For assistance, email Gessner at [email protected].