 |
||||
|
||||
|
|
||||
Every feedlot manager and nutritionist have the frustration of customers complaining about the performance on a lot of cattle. When compared to other lots, theirs did poorly. "Why?" they ask. Kenny Monfort said that his father, Warren Monfort, had developed "lot records" to compare cattle buyers. Similarly, economic close outs of how cattle perform are the bible of the industry. Close outs are used to compare cattle sources, feedlots, yearly and seasonal variation, feeding programs, research trials and feedlot demonstration trials. It is very difficult to compare one lot of cattle to another and also difficult to compare one feeding company to another. Differences in prices of products and mark-up of products are different for every feedyard. For example, a feedlot that feeds fat may have a lower dry matter conversion, but not necessarily a lower cost of gain. Dry Matter Conversion is the Standard Rations are fed and billed on an "as fed basis," but the close outs are made on a "dry matter basis." Accurate moisture evaluation of rations is critical to get a a correct feed to gain conversion. We encourage moisture testing of ingredients as a way to evaluate the ration specifications and to accurately evaluate the close outs. Correcting for Dressing Percent and Carcass Value The ultimate way to evaluate a close out is to put it on an equal dressing percent basis. Many research reports are reported this way. At the feedlot, this is not practical for feeders that sell on a live basis, unless the packer will cooperate and furnish carcass information. For feedlots selling on a carcass basis, the correction for carcass merit may be worked into the feedlot cost and profit conversion. Feed Conversion vs. Profits Some of the best profits are made from feeding big, older cattle that sometimes do not have a good feed conversion. The inital cost is critical for a profitable closeout. Sometimes "warmed-up fleshy" feeders will give a poor conversion but still be profitable. At certain times of the year, these cattle are the only supply that is available. Cattle Factors Affecting Close Outs Many factors affect the bottom line of a closeout summary. Potential compensatory gain or compensatory performance is the highlight of all lists to evaluate performance. Here is a partial list:
Feed Factors Affecting Close Outs Feed and feeding factors will affect the conversion and profitability. Good bunk management will insure good performance. High concentrate rations are more efficient than high roughage rations. The time on feed on a high roughage grow ration or a higher roughage starter program for light weight cattle will cause the close out to be less efficient than if a high concentrate ration was used. Limit fed high energy grow rations appear to have a superior conversion of feed to gain than traditional high roughage grow rations. Here are some additional factors which affect efficiency. Flaked rations are more efficient than cracked. Processing the grain will affect efficiency. Flake density of corn influences the efficiency of the corn. Flake density is critical with steam flaked milo. Finely cracked corn will be more efficient than coarsely cracked corn if the feed intake can be achieved with adequate roughage and superior feed bunk management. Dry rolled corn is more efficient than coarse rolled milo. High moisture corn is usually more efficient than dry corn. Proper moisture is critical for high moisture grains. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
All information is copywrited by Feed Lot magazine and cannot be printed or re-printed
without the publishers express consent. Please contact
Feed Lot Magazine for reprint and copy authorization.
|
||||