Even when feed is in good supply and relatively inexpensive, livestock producers wouldn’t toss it to the wind, trample it underfoot, let the nutrients weather away or otherwise waste it.
Or would they?
“Research shows that up to 40 percent of feed is wasted in some feeding systems,” said John Dhuyvetter, livestock specialist at North Dakota State University’s North Central Research Extension Center near Minot.
“Cutting back on that waste is simply putting more dollars in your pocket,” he said. The same studies that documented losses of one half or more of feed also showed that some feeding systems can limit losses to two or three percent. Dhuyvetter said losses of 15 to 20 percent in North Dakota are probably common.
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“Feed waste isn’t always apparent and it’s usually more than you’d think,” he said. “It’s an area where many producers can tighten up their management.”
Feed waste depends on several factors: The type and quality of feed, how often it’s fed, the equipment used to feed, the weather and the surface of the ground where the feed is distributed.
In general, cattle tend to waste less when fed good quality feed. They concentrate on eating, eat their fill and leave the bunk or feed wagon.
When fed poor quality feed, they produce a lot of waste by rummaging around looking for the best tidbits.
To limit waste in poor quality feed, feed cattle each day. Hungry cattle do a better job of cleaning up what’s offered, Dhuyvetter said.
If enough feed is provided to last the cattle for several days, use good barriers and racks tominimize the amount of sorting and rummaging that cattle can do.
For course feeds, grind and mix them in a way that encourages cattle to eat all of the ration, he recommended.
Feeding on mud or snow allows cattle to trample feed and makes it difficult for them to clean up all that’s offered.
Bunks, wagons, concrete or solidly frozen ground allow cattle to clean up feed that’s dumped or spilled there.
Assessing how much feed is wasted is difficult, Dhuyvetter admits. Approach the task by developing a good idea of how much feed your cattle require and compare that to what’s provided. Watch for excessive blowing or feed that’s trampled into the mud or snow around feeding areas.
“For good quality forage, a five percent loss is a good goal,” he says. “For poorer quality long-stemmed forage, up to 10 percent may be acceptable.”
