Project Update: Formulating a cost-effective protein concentrate
Around 200 beef cattle are finished every year at Pantyderi, including progeny of the 80 cow suckler herd plus bought-in dairy beef stores. Growing 60ha of wheat and barley means that plenty of starch energy is available on the farm but following analysis of the grass silage and crimped barley, a protein shortfall was identified. A custom protein concentrate mix was formulated for the farm by independent nutritionist, Hefin Richards.
The custom protein concentrate mix consisted of:
|
kg/tonne |
Rapemeal |
460 |
Wheat distillers |
460 |
Molasses |
53 |
Urea |
27 |
Maize distillers replaced wheat in the final bought blend which had an analysis of 36.1% Crude Protein and Metabolisable Energy of 12.7MJ/kgDM.
Protein concentrate inclusion in the complete diet mix ranged from 1.5kg/head/day for the growing cattle to 1.75kg/head/day for the finishing group.
This protein concentrate mix has several cost saving characteristics:
- A high overall protein level which requires less to be used in the final mix
- Maximises use of home-grown cereals
- Includes a source of non-protein nitrogen as urea which is cheaper per cost of unit proteinand can be readily used by rumen microbes
- Uses readily available high protein food and ethanol industry by-products
- Does not contain imported soya
- Does not contain any unnecessary carrier ingredients
- Demonstrates a lower overall cost per unit of protein
- Presented as a mixed blend of straights which is more cost effective to produce than a pelleted nut
- Was picked up from a local feed blending plant so there was no added delivery cost.