This is allowing them access to another market, the smaller livestock producer, Ellis said. The University Demonstration Farm is feeding the rice bran to weaned fall born calves on pasture. The calves are receiving two pounds of whole cottonseed and one pound of rice bran per day. Ellis said the results of this study will not be available until fall but initial findings indicate that rice bran increases the calves growth and their desire to eat. The biggest benefit for our region is that this desirable by-product is available in less than truckload volume, Ellis said.
Smaller producers can use the rice bran to increase animal performance.
He says rice bran should not be more than 20 to 25 percent of the animal s diet. Above this level, rice bran may cause bloating, he said. Ellis says rice bran should not be fed to horses because of its tendency to cause colic. The Southeast Demonstration Farm has data that indicates beef cowherds first service conception can be increased by 20 percent when the cows are fed high energy feed prior to breeding. Rice bran could be used to enhance cowherds first conception, Ellis said.