Re-evaluate feeding regimes to boost profits, say nutrition experts

Livestock producers need to re-evaluate their feeding systems to keep costs down this winter, according to Meat South West.

Instead of sticking to the same regime year after year, farmers should examine their costs of production and take a fresh look at alternative feeds and grazing options to maximise profitability.

Speaking at one of two practical workshops organised by Meat South West last week, beef specialist Lachlan Maclachlan from NWF Agriculture said that a tighter focus on ruminant nutrition would help farmers improve productivity and reduce costs.

"The basics are about understanding diets and testing forage quality," he said. Poor quality silage this year should be balanced by feeding alternative sources of energy like barley and molasses, he added. But farmers must target the right type of feed according to the animal’s age and nutritional requirements, and should measure growth rates to ensure goals were being met.

Grassland specialist Charlie Morgan from IBER said livestock producers had become too focussed on silage, and needed to make better use of grazed grass. "Most of our systems are now dependent on making silage – and our costs are going up and up." Instead, farmers had to take better care of their soils and pastures, to extend the grazing season and improve silage quality, rather than quantity, he added.

Alternatives included using red and white clover in grass swards, and growing brassicas to extend grazing into the winter. "We’ve got to produce top quality feed, or not produce it at all."

By paying closer attention to nutrition and grazing management, livestock producers could make significant savings, and boost output, said Helen Ashcroft, manager of Meat South West. "It is in everybody’s interest to make beef and lamb production as profitable as possible – that’s why we held these workshops and why the farmers who attended went home with plenty of new ideas to try out on their individual systems."