Controlling Feed costs
big challenges
big changes
Dr. Dan Morrical
Iowa State University
515-294-2904
morrical@iastate.edu
DGM:ISU
Feed Costs
Shepherds have control
Single largest cost of sheep production
50-75% of total costs
Current cost of production?????
10 steps to reduce feed costs
1. Control feed waste
good bunks
feed what ewes need
not what ewes want
limit access to big packages
process big packages
10 steps to reduce feed costs
2. Use feed substitution/byproducts
purchase feeds on nutrient cost
examples: corn gluten feed
dry distillers grains
soybean hulls
hay qualities
DGM:ISU
Comparison shopping
SBM
$450 per ton
48% CP
2000*.48=960 lbs
$450/960= $.469
DDGS
$140 per ton
27% CP
2000*.27=540 lbs
$140/540= $.259
Comparison shopping
Corn
$3.50/ bu
3.50/56= $.0625
$.0625/.77=
$.08/lb TDN
DDGS
$140 per ton
77% TDN
2000*.77=1540 lbs
$140/1540=
$.091/lb TDN
10 steps to reduce feed costs
3. Separate management groups
ewe lambs vs mature ewes
singles vs twins
thin vs average vs fat
DGM:ISU
10 steps to reduce feed costs
4. Mineral cost and intake
Read label
know intake level
TM salt vs mineral
cooperative purchasing
DGM:ISU
Mineral costs
$2.00 to $15.00 per ewe
TM salt at $11/50 lb bag
Sheep mineral $25.00/bag
.5 ounce intake/day
1ounce intake/day
365*.5=182 ounces/16=11.4
365 ounces/16 = 22.8
$11 x 23%= $2.53 per ewe
$25 *46%= $11.40 per ewe
DGM:ISU
10 steps to reduce feed costs
5. Sample hays
supplement as needed
example: protein tubs
“They might need it”
DGM:ISU
Iowa Hay Quality Survey, dmb
Hay type
Grass
1st cut
all others
Mixed
1st
2nd
3rd
Legumes
1st
2nd
3rd
CP
Ave.
11.6
15.2
TDN
Range
Ave.
(6-20)
55.7
(12-19.7) 61.8
Range
(47-67)
(57-70)
13.9
16.8
18.3
(8-22)
(10-22)
(11-23)
56.1
59.6
62.4
(41-69)
(47-70)
(49-73)
16.9
18.3
19.9
(10-22)
(14-22)
(13-23)
56.7
57.7
59.4
(48-69)
(45-68)
(47-70)
10 steps to reduce feed costs
6. Feed inventory management
Net wrap vs twine
Store on rock etcetera
Tarp hay
Birds
DGM:ISU
7. Improved grazing management
Year
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
Average
SERP
Pasture
3.1
4.4
3.6
9.1
3.5
3.7
4.6
Dry lot
17.1
17.0
17.1
18.1
18.0
19.6
17.8
DGM:ISU
Ewe Grazing Days Per Acre
Peter Woods, WI
3 Year High
Averagea
Year
BFT: KyBG
1429
BFT: SBG
1474
BFT: OG
1446
Cost $40.00/year
a 2 of 3 years were drought
1973
2122
2028
DGM:ISU
10 steps to reduce feed costs
8. Grazing crop residues
Grazing Season Feed
Length
Savings
1 extra mo.
$7.50
2 extra mo.
$15.00
DGM:ISU
10 steps to reduce feed costs
9. Fetal Scanning
groups ewes by stage of production
group ewes by level of production
cull or re-breed open ewes
organized lambing not long lambing
10 steps to reduce feed costs
10. Change production systems
Late lambing
Nutrient requirements and
forage quality match
Gear up ewe flock
Does increase feed costs much
but generates more output
DGM:IS
U
Bonus discussion
Buy when ingredients are priced
right, must be able to pull trigger
hay (summer)
corn (fall??)
soybean hulls (summer)
ability to store semi loads
Lamb finishing
Corn-pelleted protein $220/ton
$3.50 corn and $600 protein, 80:20
Soyhull-DDGS ration = $180/ton
Ration cost is only half
the story
Corn:PP
$.11 per pound
FE of 6 to 1
6*.11 = $.66
DDGS:SBhulls
$.09 per pound
FE of 7:1
7*.09 = $.63
Buy bulk
Bagging adds $30 or more/ton
besides it is not green
Feeding out Lambs
Profit center is feeding lambs
Selling feeders is costing
PROFIT POTENTIAL
Push the pencil really hard
Feed Conversion
Feed at $.11 per pound.
FE at 6 = $.66 feed cost of gain
Bovatec vs Deccox
Feed Conversion
Control death loss(<2%)
Use high growth terminal sires
improves FE .5 pound
80 lbs gain=40 lbs feed= $4.40
Market when ready
Purchase and use Sheep Brands
Utilizes 2007 Nutrient Requirements of Small Ruminants from the NRC
Incorporates metabolizable protein and net energy system; body condition
scoring adjustments; implant and feed additive adjustments; and local
weather adjustments.
Allows the user to define additional nutritional requirements.
Develops batch sheets for feed mixing and total mixed ration development.
Allows the user to customize the default settings for weather and sheep.
Evaluates rations for the following: multiple stages of production; ration
adequacy for group weight range; macro and micro-minerals and vitamin
status; and ration costs.
Calendarized approach in ewe development
Be creative take control
•
•
•
•
•
Test hay
Balance ration
Comparison shop
Control waste
Seek advice