Feed Mixing and Storage
Factors that Influence Stored Feed
• Moisture
• Heat
• Pests
Desired Moisture
(when stored in aerobic conditions)
Feedstuff
Desired Moisture (%)
Whole grains
< 13
Shelled corn
Up to 15.5
Ground/Rolled grains
< 11
Baled forages
18 – 20% (before
storage)
Safe Moisture Storage
• Artificial drying
– Disadvantage: can be expensive due to energy
costs
• Field drying – crop remains in the field longer
– Disadvantage: weather losses/damage, predators,
harvest loss, time in field
• Proper ensiling
Too much moisture
• Bacteria growth
• Mold growth
• Fungi growth
– Reduce palatability, alter nutrients, and produce
toxins
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Fermentation and heat = browning
Spoilage and nutrient destruction
Issues with caking
Spontaneous combustion risks
Pest Infestations
• More common issue for grains rather than
forages.
• Insects or rodents
• Damage may be grain destruction or
contamination.
• Feces and urine contamination 10 x more
than grain destruction or consumption
• Reduce palatability
• Increase risk of disease
Reducing Pest Issues
• Store feed in rodent proof containers
• Don’t store against the wall. Leave space. Off floor.
– USDA inspection issue
• Empty and clean bins when not used.
• Clean up spills.
• Keep feed rotated – first in first out (labels and dates on
containers).
• Get a rat terrier!!!
Mixing Feeds
• Most important thing is accurate formulations
and proper weighing.
• Scales must be adequate and appropriate.
• Scales should be maintained and kept clean,
calibrated on a regular schedule.
• Conversions are a must-have skill.
Types of Feed Mixers
• Two major types
– Batch Feed Mixers
– Continuous Flow Mixers
Batch Feed Mixers
• Types
– Vertical
– Horizontal
– Auger wagon
Mixers
• Advantage of horizontal over vertical mixers:
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Better for molasses and liquid ingredients.
Handle silage and ground hays better.
More expensive.
Require less mixing time.
Typically higher energy cost
Batch Mixers
• Stationary
– Advantages: High accuracy, flexibility for mixing
– Disadvantages: Feed needs transported to mixer,
storage, labor and energy costs
• Portable
– Advantages: Convenient to producer, ease of
transport, uses existing tractors for power,
fenceline feeding, freshly mixed
– Disadvantages: Equipment tied up, labor and time,
start up costs (renting or purchasing)
Continuous Flow Mixers
• Ingredients are simultaneously measured,
ground and mixed.
• Advantages: automated, little space needed,
accurate, may be more ideal for smaller
situations and batch sizes.
• Disadvantages: No roughage, storage costs,
energy costs, transporting costs associated
with ingredients and finished mixes.
Mixing of Feeds
• Order of ingredients added is EXTREMELY
important to the final mix.
– Typical corn/SBM diets
• About 25% corn should be added first to “charge” the
mixer.
• Followed by vitamin/mineral premix, additives, protein
supplements.
• Followed by remaining grain.
• Liquids should not be added at the very end but after
the critical additives (approximatley 60 – 70% of the
mixing time)
Factors Affecting Mixing Efficiency
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Type of mixer chosen
Sequence of ingredients
Filling of mixer
Length of mixing time
Ingredient particle size
Ingredient density
Proper clean out
– Flushing with ground grain after mixing a batch
Interpreting Mixer Tests
• Assay for salt in multiple locations within the mix to determine the
mean & standard deviation.
• Determine coefficient of variation (CV):
– %CV = SD/mean x 100
– < 10% CV is Excellent mixing
– 10 – 15% CV = Good = increase mixing time by 25 – 30%
– 15 – 20% CV = increase mixing time by 50%
– > 20% CV = may need to re-evaluate other factors
Example
Location
Salt (%)
1
0.24
2
0.51
3
0.55
4
0.42
5
0.59
6
0.55
7
0.59
8
0.59
9
0.64
10
0.55
Mean = 0.523
Standard Deviation = 0.1156
CV = (0.1156/0.523) x 100 = 22.10%
What would you do with this mix?
Feed Laws, Tags & Labeling
Appreciating the legal aspects of feed
manufacturing
• Manufacture and distribution of commercial
feeds are regulated primarily through
respective State Departments of Agriculture in
accordance with each State’s laws.
AAFCO
Association of American Feed Control
Officials
Purpose:
“Provide a mechanism, for developing and
implementing uniform and equitable laws,
regulations, standards, definitions, and
enforcement policies for regulating the
manufacture, labeling, distribution and sale of
animal feeds; resulting in safe, effective, and useful
feeds. The Association thereby promotes new ideas
and innovative procedures and urges their adoption
by member agencies, for uniformity”
Functions of Feed Regulations
Defined by AAFCO
• Provide protection for the consumer as well as
the regulated industry.
• Safeguard the health of man and animals.
• Provide a structure for orderly commerce.
Uniform State Feed Bill
Model Bill
• Officially adopted by AAFCO
• Guideline for respective states – published
annually
• www.aafco.org
• Endorsed by:
– American Feed Industry Association
– National Grain and Feed Association
– Pet Food Institute
Registration
• Every manufacturer must register each facility
in the state.
• Must register commercial feeds.
• Registration forms are obtained from FDA.
• Will need additional forms if drugs are
included as additives.
• Fees are assessed by tonnage distributed
What’s on the Label
• Required for all commercial feed products
– Identify the product
– Inform the user of the nature of the product
– Inform the user of the intended purpose
– Provide instruction on how to use the product
– Convey particular precautions
LABELING REGULATIONS
• Regulations specify
– minimum information provided on the label
– optional information that may be included
– information prohibited from being put on the
label of a feed product.
– Unsubstantiated performance claims can be
as misleading as unsubstantiated nutrient
claims.
– Labels must be affixed to bags of feed (except
custom mixes)
LABELING REGULATIONS
• Minor differences exist from state to state,
but feed labels generally contain the
following:
– Product Name
– Purpose statement
– Guaranteed analysis
– List of ingredients
– Directions for use
– Warnings, if any
– Name and address of manufacturer
– Net weight
LABELING REGULATIONS
• Labeling must also direct proper use of the
product = Purpose Statement
– Must contain the specific species and
physiological stage if appropriate
• Swine – Grower 44 – 110 pounds
• Pasture extender for beef cattle
– Directions may be as simple as naming the
species for which the feed is intended.
– Or could provide a lengthy explanation as to how
the feed should be fed.
LABELING REGULATIONS
• Custom feeds (prepared for a specific customer)
are to be accompanied by a label, delivery slip, or
other shipping document containing :
– Name & address of the manufacturer
– Name & address of the purchaser; Date of delivery
– Product name & brand name, if any
– Net weight of each ingredient used in the mixture
– Adequate directions for use of feeds containing
drugs or other ingredients to ensure their safe use
– Such precautionary statements as are necessary
for safe and effective use of the feed
LABELING REGULATIONS
Ingredient Lists
• Ingredients to be listed in order of amount
– Starting with the item in highest concentration,
and continuing with those found in smaller
quantities
• Names of ingredients must be official
registered names as defined by AAFCO
• No reference to quality or grade shall
appear
Collective Term Ingredients
• Often used to prevent registration of each new product
when grain nutrient concentrations change.
• Allows companies flexibility and economical savings.
• Recognize a general classification of ingredient origin,
which provide a similar function, but do not imply
equivalent nutritional value
• Official terms include: Animal protein products, forage
products, grain products, plant protein products,
processed grain by-products, roughage products,
molasses products
Collective Ingredients:
Are all of the below included?
• Animal Protein Products
1. Shrimp meal
2. Hydrolyzed hair
3. Hydrolyzed poultry feathers
4. Meat and bone meal
5. Casein
6. Animal Blood - dried
Collective Ingredients:
Are all of the below included?
• Forage Products
1. Ground grass
2. Alfalfa meal, dehydrated
3. Soybean hay
4. Brewers rice
5. Corn plant, dehydrated
6. Alfalfa hay, dehydrated
Collective Ingredients
Are all of the below included?
• Grain products
1. Brewers rice
2. Oats
3. Corn
4. Barley
5. Soybean Meal
6. Wheat
Collective Ingredients
Are all of the below included?
• Processed Grain By-Products
1. Corn gluten meal
2. Corn gluten feed
3. Buckwheat middlings
4. Rice bran
5. Oat groats
6. Wheat mill run
Labeling: Guaranteed Analysis
• Required based on species
• Voluntary nutrients can be added
Swine GA Requirements
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Crude Protein = Minimum %
Lysine = Minimum %
Crude fat = Minimum %
Crude fiber = Maximum %
Calcium = Minimum & Maximum %
Phosphorus = Minimum %
Salt = Minimum & Maximum %
Selenium = Minimum ppm
Zinc = Minimum ppm
GA Requirements for Labeling
Label Standard Format
Non Medicated Feed
• Brand & Product Name
• Purpose statement
• Guaranteed analysis
• List of ingredients
• Directions for use (including
any warning or caution
statements)
• Name and address of
manufacturer
• Quantity statement
Medicated Feed
• Brand & Product Name
• The word “medicated”
• Purpose statement
• Drug purpose statement
• Guaranteed analysis
• List of ingredients
• Directions for use (including any
warning or caution statements)
• Name and address of
manufacturer
• Quantity statement
Beef Complete and Supplement Feeds
BLUE BIRD BEEF FEED
Pasture Extender for Beef Cattle
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude protein (Min)
12%
(This includes not more than 2.9% equivalent crude protein from non-protein nitrogen)
Crude fat (Min)
2.0%
Crude fiber (Max)
10.0%
Calcium (Min)
0.5%
Calcium (Max)
1.0%
Phosphorus (Min)
0.5%
Salt (Min)
11.0%
Salt (Max)
13.2%
Potassium (Min)
0.4%
Vitamin A (Min)
10,000 IU/Lb
Ingredient Statement
Grain products, plant protein products, molasses products, urea, mineral pre-mix, vitamin A supplement, Vitamin E supplement
Feeding Directions = Self-feed to beef cattle on pasture. Feed 4 – 6 Lb per head per day as a pasture extender.
Caution = Use as directed. Observe cattle daily and monitor intake. Do not feed additional salt.
Manufactured by:
Blue Bird Feed Mill
City, State, Zip
NET WT 50 LB (22.67 Kg)