Feed Waste and Utilisation

Feed is the single biggest variable cost on-farm and the most instrumental driver of wider input utilisation. Recent studies conducted by Alltech in collaboration with industry experts reveal that as much as 45 percent of all grown and purchased feed inputs are either lost or under-utilised from field through to conversion to milk. This equates to a financial impact of almost £1 for every £3 spent. 

The initiative considers the start-to-end feed process in four key stages:  

1. In the field

From re-seeding grass leys to optimal wilting, there are practical ways to optimise waste levels of 2-5%.  

2. During storage

From ensiling techniques to clamp management, there is significant opportunity to reduce average wastage levels 25%, beyond unavoidable fermentation loss, which in silage is a minimum of 10% alone.  

3. At feed-out

From loading accuracy to feed barrier space to name a few, there is huge scope to focus on this stage of the feed process where average wastage levels are sitting at upwards of 10% and often much more.  

4. Inside the cow

From rumen function to housing, inefficiency levels are often hidden but considerably costly.   

The significant opportunities presented within the study is the primary reason why Alltech are developing a pioneering advice service designed to help farmers drive profit margins through reducing feed waste and optimising input utilisation.  

The advice service will take the form of a simple three-step process: 

Step 1 – ASSESS critical control points across the whole feed process  

Step 2 – ANALYSE financial opportunity behind these losses  

Step 3 – ACTION the actionable recommendations to better utilise invested inputs 

The advice service will be launched and available to book at UK Dairy Day on September 11, 2019.  

For more information or to get involved, please contact us by email or telephone.

For the latest developments, news and information, please visit our news page.