By Kim Ricardo
For most producers across the Plains, forage supplies are looking limited because of decreased forage production from persistent drought conditions, making now a suitable time to explore alternative feed options. Producers should begin evaluating current forage inventory to determine how much feed is needed to carry livestock through the rest of the season and begin making purchasing decisions in a timely manner before supplies dwindle further and prices increase. Agricultural byproducts such as distillers grains, soybean hulls, sunflower meal, and crop residues are a readily available and cost-effective solution to stretch hay supplies when resources are limited.
Many byproduct feeds provide a reliable source of high-quality digestible energy, protein, and/or fiber. Depending on local markets and resources, byproducts are often readily available in the Northern Plains and can be a cost-effective feedstuff for livestock producers. Byproducts are most effectively fed to livestock when used as part of a balanced ration rather than used as a complete replacement for forages. When used in conjunction with forage resources, byproducts can serve as a great option to conserve hay inventory, reduce feed costs, and improve operational flexibility during dry years.
Common agricultural byproducts available in South Dakota include distillers grains, soybean hulls, wheat middlings, beet pulp, corn gluten feed, and sunflower meal. Soy hulls provide moderate energy and are high in digestible fiber, making them a great resource to replace a portion of hay in the diet. Wheat middlings are an all-around byproduct that provides moderate sources of protein, energy, and fiber to livestock making them a great feed source for most species and classes of livestock. Beet pulp provides a highly digestible source of fiber and moderate source of energy, which helps maintain rumen environment and offset nutrient deficiencies found in lower-quality hay and crop residues. Corn gluten feed supplies adequate sources of protein, energy, and digestible fiber and is an economical supplement option that can replace a portion of hay in the diet. Sunflower meal is high in protein and provides some additional fiber, making it a great protein supplement when livestock are consuming low-quality forages or crop residues.
When determining what byproducts to feed livestock, it is important to utilize forage and feed tests to know exactly what nutrients are being provided and which may require additional supplementation. Using that information to determine which feedstuffs are most cost-effective based on price per nutrient rather than price per ton is essential to reducing supplementation costs. Table 1 demonstrates an example of comparing different feedstuffs based on cost per pound of protein rather than cost per ton. To determine cost per pound of nutrient producers should first determine cost per pound of feed.
Source : sdstate.edu