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:

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.