10 steps to gain more from the same

With feed costs for finishing cattle representing the biggest cost on farms, the challenge — as ever — is to maximise liveweight gain from the feed purchased and made on-farm. As a result of this performance increase, cattle finish quicker and spend fewer days on-farm, leading to a reduced feed bill.

To assist with this challenge, Alltech and its technical team have developed a unique beef programme that can help your cattle gain more from feed and reach target finishing weights quicker. Achieving this quicker finish is no mean feat, and to do so, a few things should be considered. Here is our 10-point beef programme checklist that lets you get the most out of your feed.

1. Defined finishing programme

Know your finishing system, the farm’s capabilities and what has worked well in the past. Purchase cattle that are a good fit for your system and purchased and available feeds. We are all aware of the end specs laid out by processors; achieving the best beef price requires hitting these specs. 

2. Arrival period procedure

The first three–four weeks of an animal’s time on your farm are of the utmost importance. Mixing with new cattle and dealing with changing surroundings and a new diet are all challenges. Minimising these challenges and reducing the stress they put on your animals can help ensure the highest level of performance. Separate housing and a specific arrival diet will lead to the best results. 

3. Correct finishing period

Feeding for the shortest period possible to achieve the correct finish will ensure optimum profitability from your system. It costs over four times as much to put on one kilogram of fat as it does to put on one kilogram of lean beef. Traditional breeds, such as Angus and Hereford, should have finishing targets of 70 days or less. Continental breeds can be fed for longer periods, as they don’t lay down fat as quickly. However, bear in mind: The longer animals spend on a finishing diet, the more their performance starts to decline. As such, the target finishing period should be 80–100 days for heifers and steers and 120–140 days for bulls, depending on their age and weight.     

4. Clean and accessible water

Water is one of the most important ingredients in any beef finishing programme. If water intakes are restricted due to dirty drinkers, the animal’s intake of concentrate and forage also declines. Simply put, if animals don’t eat enough their energy intakes are reduced, and their performance suffers. Clean the drinkers regularly and ensure they are properly accessible to animals in the pen. 

5. Correct housing

Ensure that animals are not overstocked and, for those using traditional feeding practices, that all animals can feed at once. This helps reduce gorging on concentrate and competition within the group, ensuring that every animal has an equal opportunity to perform at maximum levels. Anyone working with various bedding options should know that wet, dirty bedding does limit animal performance. It will be a difficult year in this respect, with bedding material like straw at a high price. However, other options, including peat, are available.

6. Rumen health plan

The concept of gaining more from the same feed comes from better rumen health. In other words, making the rumen or stomach more efficient at converting the diet into weight gain. From a nutritional perspective, rumen health is the single biggest challenge on farms. Confronting this challenge — as well as the conversion of feed into weight gain — requires you to provide optimum levels of forage at the correct chop length. You can also benefit from technologies like Yea-Sacc®, which has been scientifically proven to aid rumen health and lead to a 10% improvement in daily live weight gain (reference Table 1).

Table 1: The effect of Yea-Sacc® on daily live weight gain

7. Consistent diet

In beef finishing, consistency is key. Ensuring that animals cannot select between ingredients in their diet will also ensure a more consistent level of performance within the group. Additionally, providing animals with the same diet every day will protect against upsets to rumen health.

8. Animal health plan

The best animals can be fed the best nutrition programme. But, if the animals are compromised with health challenges, targets still won’t be met. As such, before any animals are purchased or moved indoors, a clear plan to deal with issues such as fluke, worms, lice (internal and external parasites) and respiratory disease should be put in place. 

9. Balanced nutrition plan

Animals are not so different from humans in that, the more they eat, the more weight they are likely to gain, especially if energy-dense feeds are included in their diets. With finishing cattle, a balance must be struck that ensures a high level of intake over a sustained period. To do this, work with your nutritionist to incorporate the maximum amount of energy into your animals’ diet, balanced with a sufficient amount of protein, fibre and minerals.   

10. Mould-free feeds

An issue that has been at the forefront recently is the effect moulds and toxins have on animal health and performance. We now know more about the effects they can have on beef cattle, such as loose manure, poor performance, immunity issues, swollen legs and higher incidence of lameness; all of which could seriously impact profitability. Excluding mouldy feeds from the diet is a must; however, toxins can be present even when mould is not visible. If you suspect toxins may be causing an issue on your farm, talk with your feed advisor, as they may be able to suggest labs that can run tests for toxins. They can also inform you on mycotoxin binders, which reduce toxins’ effects in the animal.   

These are the 10 key focus areas for ensuring that your cattle gain more from the same feed. Our team of technical representatives, based throughout Ireland, is available to discuss each of these areas with you further. Alltech solutions are proven to help beef cattle achieve a higher health status and optimise feed use, resulting in increased and efficient weight gain, leading to a faster, younger, finish.

Call our nutrition team today for management tips and to plan your winter finishing diet: +353 (0)59 910 1320 or email ireland@alltech.com.