Feed your highest producers the best quality forage available. Incorporate lower quality forages into lower producer rations. Harvest set aside acreages when available and include them in your rations as fiber fill sources. Managing Grain Costs 1. Consider using alternative feeds such as bakery waste, beet pulp, wet brewers grain, maltage, corn gluten feed, hominy feed, whole cottonseed, cottonseed hulls, wheat midds, rice bran and rice hulls.
Group cows according to nutrient needs and feed accordingly.
Determine whether switching to a total mixed ration would allow you to stretch your feed budget by incorporating lower quality feeds or less palatable feeds. 4. Consider contracting feeds during harvest or when reduced prices are available. Calibrate your weighing devices to ensure accurate ration formulation. Cull Unprofitable Animals 1. Evaluate cows in the lactating herd for profitability and cull the bottom end.