Producers can offset high forage prices by using by-products from cereal grains, sugar beets, sugarcane, and even waste from bakeries as animal feed. These by-products, including wheat bran, corn gluten meal, and brewer’s grains, offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional forages like pasture grasses and hay. By strategically incorporating these feeds, producers can maintain animal health and production quality while managing feed costs.
How Can By-Products Reduce Forage Costs?
By-product feeds are the residues from commercial processing of cereal grains and other food crops. These include wheat milling by-products like wheat bran and middlings, rice bran and hulls from rice polishing, and corn gluten feed and meal from starch manufacturing. These by-products can be used as filler or feed for farm animals.
Types of By-Product Feeds
- Cereal Grains: By-products from barley, corn, oats, rye, and wheat provide energy.
- Oil Meals: High-protein options like soybean, canola, and cottonseed.
- Industrial By-Products: From sugar beet and sugarcane processing.
- Fermentation Residues: Brewers’ grains and distillers’ grains from alcohol production.
- Abattoir Waste: Meat and bonemeal from meatpacking plants.
Nutritional Value and Use
Many animal feed by-products contain substantial amounts of high-quality protein and minerals like calcium and phosphorus. Straws from wheat, oat, barley, and rice crops can feed cattle and other ruminants, especially when other feeds are scarce. Corn gluten meal is a high-protein feed consisting chiefly of corn gluten. Corn, dry-milled as grits or meal, is a popular component in compounded animal feedstuffs.
Storage and Production Considerations
Grains should be dried to 14% moisture or less to prevent spoilage and stored to prevent insect and rodent damage. Ensiling chopped corn plants preserves the whole plant for feed, reducing waste.
Practical Strategies for Producers
- Assess Nutritional Needs: Understand the specific dietary requirements of your livestock.
- Identify Local By-Products: Determine what by-product feeds are available in your region.
- Calculate Cost Savings: Compare the cost per nutrient of by-products versus traditional forages.
- Implement Gradual Transition: Slowly introduce by-products into the animals’ diets.
- Monitor Animal Health: Observe animals for any adverse reactions or changes in performance.
People Also Ask
How do by-product feeds compare nutritionally to traditional forages?
By-product feeds can, in many cases, offer comparable or even superior nutritional profiles compared to traditional forages. For example, corn gluten meal is a high-protein feed, while distillers’ grains provide both protein and energy. The key is to analyze the specific nutrient content of each by-product and balance the diet accordingly.
What are the potential drawbacks of using by-product feeds?
Some by-products may have limitations, such as lower digestibility or imbalances in certain nutrients. For instance, straws are high in fiber but low in protein, requiring supplementation. Additionally, the availability and price of by-products can fluctuate depending on local markets and processing schedules.
Can by-product feeds affect the quality of meat, milk, or eggs?
When properly balanced in the diet, by-product feeds should not negatively impact the quality of animal products. In some cases, they may even enhance certain aspects, such as the protein content of milk or the omega-3 fatty acid profile of eggs. Consistent monitoring of animal health and product quality is essential.
By-products from various industries offer a cost-effective way to offset high forage prices. By understanding the nutritional value, storage considerations, and potential drawbacks, producers can effectively integrate these alternative feeds into their operations.
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