Alternative Feeds

1. Alternative Feeds Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Oklahoma State University

2. Supplemental Feeding is Recommended for Grazing Cattle When: • Correcting for nutritional deficiency • Increased performance is desired • Stretching forage is necessary

3. Traditional Supplements • Commercial products • Alfalfa hay • Corn, grain sorghum, or wheat • Cottonseed or soybean meal

4. Access to Alternative Feeds Has Increased Over the Past Few Years • By-products of grain and/or oilseed milling, fermentation products, bakeries, etc. • Common examples: Wheat midds, corn gluten feed, soybean hulls • Less common examples: Bakery waste products, bean sprouts, peanut skins

5. Digestible vs Nondigestible Fiber Sources • Digestible fiber energy sources • Soybean hulls • Wheat middlings • Corn gluten feed • Distillers dried grains • Rice bran • Indigestible fiber • Cotton seed hulls • Rice hulls • Peanut hulls

6. Considerations • Product variability • Palatability • Moisture • Protein • Protein degradability • Minerals

7. Ash Content of Selected Alternative Feeds Source: Dairy One

8. Iron Content of Selected Alternative Feeds Iron requirement in total daily ration = 50 ppm Source: Dairy One

9. Considerations • Availability • Seasonal • Freight - volume and cost • Facilities and equipment • Total nutrition program evaluation is necessary. Blending of products is frequently required. • Feed companies are providing services and products to compliment the use of many of these feeds

10. Considerations • Less risk of digestive upset due to over consumption compared to grain • Mineral considerations • Evaluate Ca:P ratio (P usually too high)

11. Phosphorus Content of Selected Alternative Feeds Range in P requirements for cattle Source: Dairy One

12. Considerations • Less risk of digestive upset due to over consumption compared to grain • Mineral considerations • Evaluate Ca:P ratio (P usually too high) • Generally good sources of trace minerals although extremely variable and a complimentary supplement will be required

13. Pelleting Costs $8 -$20 per ton extra Reduces dust Improves flow and density Reduces freight cost “Commodity” feeds are generally not available in cube form Considerations

14. Barley Malt Sprout Pellets • By-product of beer brewing process • Palatable feed • Considerable fiber from hulls • High phosphorous and sulfur content • Potential sulfur toxicity problems

15. Corn Gluten Feed • By-product of high fructose corn syrup production • Highly rumen degradable protein source • Palatability variable with grazing cattle • Energy value equal to corn when fed at 0.5% of body weight • Potential sulfur toxicity problems

16. Dried Distillers Grains • By-product of the distilling industry • Low in ruminal degradable protein 30-50% • As acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) increases, undegradable protein increases • Considered a protein supplement, but energy value equal to corn gluten feed • Limit to 0.5% of weight due to fat content

17. Hominy Feed • By-product of hominy grits, and corn meal milling process • Palatable feed • Should be analyzed for fat content • Limit to 0.5% of weight due to fat content

18. Rice Bran • By-product of the rice milling industry • High fat content can cause rancidity problems during summer storage • Small particle size, starch, and fat content present potential digestive problems • Limit to 0.5% of weight due to fat content

19. Soybeans • Damaged beans (drought, frost, etc.) have good feeding value • Damaged soybeans vary in nutrient content • Drought stressed beans should be cracked or rolled • Not for calves < 300 lbs., or cattle consuming urea containing supplements • Limit to 0.3% of body weight of grazing cattle • Never feed to cows within 60 d of breeding season

20. Soybean Hulls • By-product of soy-bean oil processing • Energy from highly digestible fiber • Energy equal to corn when limited to 0.5% of body weight of grazing cattle • Avoid bloat by feeding 3-4 lbs. effective fiber when self-feeding hulls

21. Sunflower Meal • By-product of the sunflower oil production process • Protein highly rumen degradable • Low digestibility of hulls limits energy value • Buy based on cost per unit of protein

22. Wheat • Human use - usually too expensive as feed grain • Low test weight, sprout-damaged wheat sometimes competitively priced to feed grains • Higher rumen degradability of protein than corn • Must be rolled or coarsely ground to be utilized • If feeding high amounts of grain (>1% of weight) blend 30-50% wheat with 50-70% other grain

23. Wheat Middlings • By-product of flour milling process • Performance similar to corn and soybean supplement in grazing cattle • Energy from highly digestible fiber and starch • Limit to 1% of weight to reduce risk of bloat • Susceptible to molding at moisture content above 11%

24. Whole Cottonseed • By-product of cotton ginning process • Uniquely high in energy, fat, protein, fiber, and palatability • Limit to 0.5-.75% weight due to fat content • Does not flow in mechanical systems, must be handled manually

25. Conclusions • Alternative feeds variable in price, availability, and nutrient composition • May require additional handling (mixing), storage, and feeding equipment • Must have knowledge of the feed’s nutrient and physical characteristics • Must consider all feeds available to the cattle and work to provide balanced nutrition • May represent a cost savings opportunity

26. Questions?