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Feed Forum

Photo submitted by a local producer to our feed department manager.  It's great to see how our local coop is reaching out to the next generation of producers!  It's about more than just making feed.

Feed Department Update

By Tyler McCoy, Feed Department Manager

Last month I wrote about the mill shutdowns that we had planned for Montrose, and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome. Our new 4-ton mixer is hopping along at 25 minutes a semi load compared to 40 minutes with our old mixer. We have new capacity, and the mill is waiting on truck drivers for once, instead of the other way around. We also just picked up the feed department’s first ever brand-new truck, a 2024 Freightliner. We will now have 5 semis for 4 drivers which will allow us to have a spare so that we won’t have to pull a driver off the road for truck maintenance. We know the busy season is close, so we pushed our bid a bit to make sure we have plenty of corn on hand while field work is getting done. Please keep an eye on our bid during those rainy days. As always, thanks for your business.

4/19/2024

Creep Feed Ration

By Brooke Brunsvig, Nutritional Consultant

Calving season, didn’t it feel like it Monday with the rain/snow?! We definitely need the moisture, but don’t forget to figure how the temperature feels to the cattle and what toll that takes on their energy needs. Energy and protein needs are both hitting peak levels as it is.

With this requirement curve and the expense applied to feeding in mind, we can use their body condition to affordably keep our cows productive year-round. Around weaning we can put on condition easily and cheaply then use this extra condition to our advantage when we can’t economically feed enough to meet maintenance needs in the early spring. It’s not completely our choice to use this extra condition, so have cows in a condition score of 5 out of 9 and heifers at a 6 at calving. Know your inventory of feedstuffs AND the quality so we can utilize resources most effectively. 

Plan now for rebreeding as it relates to your bulls and first calf (even second calf) heifers. In a presentation you can see here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OufSydOJwd0, Thiago Martins from the University of Missouri talks about managing your young stock for longevity and productivity. Prioritize them through to at least their third breeding season. Breed them early in the season, keep their nutrient requirements in mind through peak lactation, and consider weaning calves from heifers up to 5 months earlier than the rest of the herd.

Since calving is where our heads are, make a plan if you don’t have one with your vet to capitalize on immunity from colostrum by finding a vaccine you can give calves the earliest possible without interfering with antibodies from the colostrum and before losing these antibodies somewhere between 2-6 months old.

Lastly, the markets have been “fun” the last week or two now and I’m not a broker, but I will caution that the avian flu in dairy cattle is a scare tactic excuse to move the markets and should straighten out or at least not have a great affect on cash markets now. Cattle and calves are not so affected that they are being euthanized and there is no consumer health risk. According to ShayLe Stewart, DTN Livestock Analyst, we have likely not seen the top of the market. Keep the long-term view of the industry in mind; the summer looks to be on the drier side, and we haven’t started to see much heifer retention.

4/5/2024

Creep Feed

By Shannon Voegele, Nutritional Consultant

It’s time to start considering what creep feed ration you’re going to use this spring/summer. This year the calf price relative to feed price is most favorable for creep feeding your calves. Creep feeding also helps calves prepare for less setback at weaning time and they tend to change over to feedlot rations faster. This smooth transition can help reduce stress and health issues related to weaning. Creep feeding can add 30 to 60 pounds of weight to calves at weaning time. This is because they have access to a consistent and more nutrient-dense food source in addition to their mother’s milk, particularly after a cow’s milk yield peaks. The amount of creep feed you need will vary based on the calf’s weight, age, and the quality of available forage. On average, a calf can consume 1 to 3 pounds of creep feed per 100 pounds of body weight daily. Give one of us a shout so we can get a creep ration ready to help get you ahead of the game. 

3/28/2024

Are you thinking about creep feeding?
Call a Nutritional Consultant or Location Manager for pricing and availability today.

Keep our feedlot programs in mind once you wean your calves.
Call a Nutritional Consultant or Location Manager for details.

Central Farmers Cooperative is dedicated to serving our patrons.
Please call the location nearest you to find out how one of our professional staff members can help you.

 Feed Staff