It’s springtime; time to make sure your little guys have the nutrition and feed they need for a healthy start. The proper use of a Creep Feeder allows them to get the supplemental feed necessary for healthy weight gains while increasing their pre-weaning weight. Creep feeding will get your calves into market ready shape and high-quality condition more quickly than relying on just common community hay and assures less strain in their developmental years. An early healthy start wards off disease and physical stress to create the best genetic lines going forward for your future generations.
Creep feeders provide a safe feeding area for smaller animals, away from larger animals such as their mothers. The small entryway allows the physically babies access to grain, hay and nutritional supplements while keeping larger animals from entering the feeding area. Adult livestock are just as interested in the feed supplements and would eat it before the baby could, so a creep feeder is necessary to separate the two without causing anxiety for either.
It can be difficult and extremely stressful to try and manually separate a calf from its mother in order to provide supplemental feed. It’s much easier to allow the natural curiosity of the calf to take it into the Creep Feeder and be rewarded with the sweet tasting grain and supplements it needs. This eliminates the stress the animals feel when a calf is removed from it’s mother for feeding and is the most un-intrusive method of assuring the calf gets it’s required supplements.
Barn World carries a selection of creeps feeders to ensure your young ones get the nutrition necessary to grow up fast and healthy. Calves aren’t the only animals that benefit from supplemental feeds; sheep, goats, deer and even horses can all benefit from advanced nutrition throughout their lives.
Barn World has a horse Creep Feeder designed to be mounted directly on a stall wall for easy access for both you and your horse. The adjustable top allows you to create a customize size opening on the top of the feeder and forms an overhang on the interior so the feed cannot be slung out of the sides when your horse is eating. This unique and simple design prevents spillage and the waste of expensive supplements and allows you to adjust the size of the theater as your equine gross.
Made with stainless steel hardware and extremely durable 3/8 inch high density plastic, this feeder is designed to last a lifetime. It also has a removable bottom for easy cleaning to guarantee sanitary feeding conditions in your stall. No more unnecessary and crusty leftover feed for flys!
These feeders are designed specifically for deer and wildlife. Providing protein to keep an entire herd healthy and growing will also head off disease and give the best opportunity for trophy wildlife. Deer need protein year-round and it is especially important during the growth of their antlers. In conjunction with natural forage, a protein supplement will ensure the best growing gains and herd lines for generations to come.
Providing the necessary nutrition for your livestock, equine or wildlife, is a must and a traditional Creep Feeder is the best feed management system to ensure the young animals get the healthy beginning and continuing nutrition needed.
Visit Barn World today for all your livestock and cattle guard needs and get a great start on a new season!
Hay feeders can make or break your livestock profit margins in a hurry. Wasted hay is one of the most expensive, yet easily containable costs associated with raising animals. With such an impact on your bottom line, it’s extremely important to minimize your feed expenses and Barn World has the hay feeders to do just that.
The most effective means of keeping your livestock from wasting hay and driving up your feeding costs is to contain the hay in a clean environment that allows them to eat it rather than walk on it. We’ve all experienced hay blowing around a feeder only to be trampled into the mud by the animals that should be eating it, creating a needless waste of money. The simple solution is a hay feeder that not only allows them to eat from the bale but also keeps the hay clean and together for consumption.
Here’s a look at three different styles of hay feeders that offer long-lasting economic benefits for feeding your livestock:
This feeder is a large, traditional round bale feeder with a 9-foot diameter and 12 feed openings. It has heavy-duty mud legs, and it’s 1-1/2″ x 2.5″ 16 gauge high tensile tubing makes this feeder extremely sturdy to take years of abuse from your livestock. Weighing in at 440 pounds, this large feeder will handle up to 20 heads of cattle.
This is an extremely large and heavy cattle feeder weighing 600 pounds. It rests on skids so that it may be moved about your pastures with ease. At 7 feet wide, 8 feet long, and 72 inches tall, this indestructible feeder offers the ability to suspend your hay bale above the mud, dirt, and water and can also be used to feed grain in the pan below. The entirely welded design of 2″ square tubing and angle iron give it incredible strength to withstand any abuse.
A unique design in that it suspends the hay bale off the ground and allows your livestock to get at it from all angles. Suspending the hay bale helps prevent water damage, rotting, and mold. It also keeps the bale fresh and free from dirt so the hay remains a clean source of food for your livestock. It’s a simple and effective means of keeping hay costs to a minimum.
Keeping your costs low and your animals healthy and growing is the primary objective of any rancher. These hay feeders are designed to last and provide economic benefits to you and your livestock for years.
Barn World offers a large selection of creep feeders for all your livestock needs. We even have creep feeders for the stall. For all of our creep feeders, please visit Barn World.com today or call (720) 238-2190.
Creep feeding is a means of providing supplemental feed for nursing kids. It is an essential component of an accelerated kidding and/or early weaning management program. It increases pre-weaning weight gain, especially for kids reared as a twin or triplet. Kids will reach a target market weight and can be marketed at a younger age. All Barn World goat creep feeders are built with a covered shelter to keep feed dry.
Creep feeding will have your calves ready for market sooner in high quality condition. Creep feeding also assures less strain on your brood stock. Healthy brood stock means better quality calves year after year. All calf creep feeders come standard with a gray enamel finish.
Nutrition is the key to successful wildlife and game management. And nothing is more important than protein. Protein is absolutely essential to the health of your entire herd and to the potential for trophy bucks. Whitetail deer need protein all year round, especially after the rut and during the critical 200-day antler-growing period. Protein feeding is the ideal complement to natural forage.
Barn World carries a large selection of creep feeders, both large and small. To see the full line up of feeders, please visit www.BarnWorld.com today or call (720) 238-2190.
Hay Feeders Save Money and Pay for Themselves Quickly
It’s another hot and dry summer and the cost of feeding your livestock is only going up as hay gets more difficult to come by. Shipping hay long distances from the few growing areas left in the country to the animals that need it has become all too common.
To make the best of this terrible hay growing season and to save as much money as you can while still providing for your animals, it’s important to provide the most efficient means of feeding and minimize the amount of waste produced. This calls for a no-nonsense hay feeder from Barn World.
There are many different feeder styles that allow for any budget and will produce savings that will allow the feeder to pay for itself in a short amount of time. Whether you feed small square bales to a few animals, or large round bales to a lot, the proper feeder is critical to saving money. A quality feeder will allow you to minimize money lost to hay waste that falls on the ground and erodes your profits, while providing a safe environment to maximize your feeding budget.
For large animals that are fed large quantities at a time, you can’t go wrong with a round bale feeder. These large and durable feeders are designed to feed almost any large animal from cattle to buffalo. We carry a Bull Tuff Round Bale Feeder that has a 9’ 6” bottom diameter that tapers to 8’6” at the top. It will accommodate the 6’ round bale, has 12 feed openings and 9 heavy duty mud skids to keep the feeder entirely off the ground. There are no sharp edges for animals to cut themselves and the 3 piece bolted assembly is built for years of heavy duty use. This is a very common and popular feeder for large bulls and horses.
Another large animal feeder that’s new and very popular is the hay hopper design. This feeder holds the bale off of the ground and livestock will eat from the bottom up. The loose hay will drop to the bottom of the feeder where it is protected from being trampled by a metal skirt. This preserves the hay to be eating directly under the suspended bale. The hay hopper feeders are made for cattle, buffalo, horses, goats and sheep and has a patent pending design.
For a quick and simple method of feeding your horses’ large bales, look no further then the Hay Hut Hay Feeder. At 84” deep and 72” wide, and a height of 84”, this plastic feeder will not rust out and is extremely easy to use. Simply drop your bale on the ground and cover with the hay hut. It’s an attractive feeder that looks like a small house or hut and has eight feeding stations available for easy access to the hay bale. It also provides a covered shelter to protect the bale from the weather and the sun. This feeder ships in two easy to assemble sections and will fit in the back of a pickup truck. It takes approximately half an hour to put together and is easy to move around your pasture should you choose.
The plastic is a durable and UV protected material that provides fantastic, maintenance free cover for your bales. There is a one year warranty and most feeders last for 10 or more years with steady use. They’re also available in two colors: black and forest green.
Popular Poly Horse Hay Feeder
One of the most popular horse hay feeders is the Poly Round Hose Hay Feeder. It’s designed especially for horses and all of the hardware is counter-sunk into the feeder so there aren’t any sharp edges for potential cuts or scrapes. This feeder is mad e from four pieces to form the circle and is also idea for small ponies and colts. It’s easy to assemble and move to where you’d like to feed. Simply drop your round bale either on the ground or on a pallet, roll the feeder next to it and drop it over the bale. At only 80lbs, this one is extremely portable and can be rolled to your bale. Made from recycled plastic, it’s environmentally friendly and is composed of UV resistant resin. With a two year warranty on material and workmanship, this feed will last for many seasons.
Rack and Trough Feeders allow for both hay bales and grain to be feed from the same feeder. Another plus is the ability of the trough below the rack to catch hay that falls when animals pull from the bale. This allows the hay to be eaten from the trough, rather than wasted on the ground and eating into your profits.
Our combo feeders come in a variety of sizes, each designed for the animal being fed. They are primarily built to accommodate cattle or horses and the versatility of the feeder allows for animals that require both grain and hay in their diet. A very convenient feature.
Although used in the stall with smaller amounts of hay, a lot of potential food can still be wasted. The portable hay feeders are useful when traveling or in the stall. Typically mounted on the wall or in a corner, they can provide an easy means of dumping in flakes for your animal to enjoy at any time. The Health-EZ Hay Feeder even does double duty as ‘entertainment’ and can keep some horses minds occupied and out of trouble while they nudge a hanging feeder around the stall. It doesn’t matter what type of animals you’re raising or enjoying, a hay feeder is one of the easiest ways to introduce an efficient means of saving money and will pay for themselves in short order.
Visit Barn World today to view all of our livestock supplies and if there’s anything we can help with, please let us know by calling (720) 238-2190.
As the entire country is affected by the drought, the cost of feeding your livestock continues to rise. It’s now more important then ever to minimize waste from feeding.
Barn World carries a large selection of hay feeders to minimize waste and provide increase profits. The Hay Hut hay feeder is a great horse hay feeder that is so easy to use and simple in design that feeding round bales to your animals is a cinch.
In addition to the actual hay/cost savings, the use of large bale hay significantly reduces Labor costs and this design helps minimize pasture stress in overstock situations and during poor forage growing conditions.
They also help stop ‘big bale bickering’ and can bring a strong air of calmness as if the horses all know that they have a constant source of protected hay.
The unit ships in two halves with simple build instructions and takes approximately 30 minutes to bolt together. They are very easy to move, manage, load and maintain
This feeder is a robust, durable, and UV stabilized covered hay feeder made of polyethylene and hence it cannot rust and does not require any maintenance unlike the majority of metal feeders.
The feeder measures a full 84 inches in depth so that it can accommodate the largest of round rolls now being produced in the USA and up to twenty conventional square bales! There’s also enough room for the majority of big square bales.
This large size and depth allows it to be easily pushed back over very large bales, even if they have been placed on a pallet, without catching the top lip of the feeder on the bale itself.
The 84 inches height allows for plenty of headroom for the use of a pallet while still allowing for good airflow and cooling over the top of the bale.
When un-assembled, it will fit in the back of pickup. The overall width of 72 inches allows up to three units (in six halves) to be transported easily in a standard bed pick-up truck (see photo). This configuration also helps reduce shipping costs.
A half unit can be mounted against a wall or hard structure for use with conventional square bales. It can also be mounted against a fence with a locally purchased plywood back attached for weather protection
The half unit measures 42″ x 72″ x 84″ and has four feeding windows.
It comes with simple build instructions and takes approximately 30 minutes to bolt together. They are very easy to move, manage, load and maintain and we have many testimonials to that effect. Supplied with all assembly hardware and a lifting eye for relocation purposes, it can be relocated by carrying or by simply carrying. Just see our video to see how easy it is to move.
Similar units of identical material from the same manufacturer that has been outdoors for 6 years in Missouri and are warrantied for an entire year. The feeder should provide at least 10 years of good service which is an outstanding return on investment.They are designed and manufactured to accommodate all sizes of round rolls up to 1600 lbs. We have incorporated bigger windows for larger horses and anchor points for windy conditions.
Here’s a great demonstration video:
Customer Testimonials
Below are just some of the happy customers: Please contact us for more information or if you wish to provide a testimonial about how these covered hay feeders work for you.
Gottado Ranch, Ocala – April 2011 We purchased 2 Hay Huts at an equine event in Ocala, FL. They are easy to set up and use. As soon as we had them in the field the horses came over to check it out. They were eating out of it before we left. We had a really bad rainstorm about 3 days after we started using our Hay Huts. I went out after the storm to check the hay inside the huts. The hay was bone dry! The wind did not even blow rain in the windows. The horses love it and none of them fight. There is no manure or urine in the hay because the Hay Hut prevents this. This results in almost all of the hay in the Hay Hut is being used as food rather than bedding. Thank you Hay Hut for a great product that saves time and money. We plan on purchasing another Hay Hut before next winter.
January 2011 Thank you so much for your courtesy and help as I decided whether or not to buy your Hayhuts product, for Potomac Glen Riding School . Since we have four paddocks at Potomac Glen, each containing 5 to 7 horses, we needed at least four Hayhuts, and I was initially very concerned about what I thought might be an expensive investment.
I am very pleased to report that the four Hayhuts I purchased have exceeded my wildest hopes of better hay usage & economy. Without a doubt, the Hayhuts have halved my round bale usage in just the last few months, thereby cutting my hay costs substantially. The Hayhuts have eliminated hay waste by keeping the horses from sleeping & defecating on the round bale hay. They also keep the ice, snow and rain off the round bales so I no longer lose a lot of hay. The Hayhuts have also eliminated the typical wasted mound of unusable hay, and the horses eat all of the round bale hay and leave only dust. My quality if life has improved because, in addition to saving on my round bale hay costs, I have also cut my work load substantially by feeding the bales to my horses only once a week, instead of two times a week, and the paddock clean up is virtually non-existent! Thank you again for your Hayhuts. When finances permit, I will be adding two more Hayhuts to the riding school. I will be happy to talk to anyone who is interested in Hayhuts. They can contact me at (301) 601-0622, and I will be happy to tell them about my experiences and to heartily recommend Hayhuts! Susan Hansen Potomac Glen Riding School
January 2011 Eliminates almost all waste! Just a note to tell you I don’t think you were totally truthful with me when we talked about the hay hut: you said I could probably reduce hay waste by about 30%… well I have now fed two round bales out of the hut and am COMPLETELY CONVINCED waste is almost totally non existent! I watch the horses eat every day at some time or other and it seems when they do drag a mouthful out of the hut and drop it, that before they stick their heads back in they almost always pick up what they have dropped and eat it first. If there is a mouthful laying on the ground when they first walk up to the hut they usually pick it up and eat it first! They have developed really good “table” manners. I would bet out of the two bales fed so far, not even three (YES 3!) pounds of hay has been wasted and when it has snowed it was totally protected. The price initially, did seem high but with the price of hay it will pay for itself in very short order, well worth the investment for sure! Thanks for delivering and helping me get started assembling it and Thanks for a GREAT product!
AUGUST 21st 2010 Working out well! The horses love it. Little to no waste on the hay. The hay stays dry, and no fussing. We did learn to set the hay on end instead of the side, as on the side they were able to peal layers off and out. Not so when it’s sitting on end. Carole (Missouri)
MAY 1st 2010 I just wanted to tell you that I put up 2 huts in my fields for my 5 horses and the 2 round bales lasted 3 weeks! I was feeding 4 bales of hay/day and at $4-$5/bale/day, that was about $16-$20/day. With the Hayhuts I am only spending about $4/day! I love them! Thanks, Kelly Melberg Winlock, Wa
A letter from Pennsylvania
We wanted to drop you a note and let you know how satisfied we are with your product. We purchased three units from you in July ’09. The units were assembled and put in the pastures once we received them. We started feeding hay on and off from October until December. Starting in December we began feeding full-time from the feeders.
Our hay usage has shown a dramatic decrease. We do not see the large hay/manure piles that we routinely had using conventional round bale feeders. By this time each winter I am usually looking for sources of hay; our barn still has enough to last us for another two months. We have the largest number of horses that we ever have had on the farm, we have used less hay than we used to with fewer animals. We have fed small square bales, large round bales and large square bales in the feeders: they handle all of these varieties without any problems at all.
We are feeding animals in a variety of sizes and breeds. They all readily use the feeders without any problems. We are feeding our foals, yearlings, broodmares, miniature donkeys and a large Thoroughbred and Irish Sport horse on these feeders. We have three pastures running at the present time, one feeder has five horses on it, one has ten broodmares and the other has six geldings and two donkeys.
Assembly of the units was easy and took only around 20 minutes per hut. The green color blends in well with our fields and makes the huts easy to find in snow drifts, lol. Ordering and delivery were easy and I believe we will easily recover the cost of the units by the end of this year or the beginning of next. The amount of hay saved and a decrease in wasted hay/manure mixed is unbelievable.
We would highly recommend your product to anyone feeding horses round bales of hay or even small bales. The quality of the huts, the cost, the performance and your customer service have made purchasing and using these units a pleasure.
Thank you, The Hillards Pat and Kathy Hillard
City of Houston Mounted Patrol They are everything they say they are and more. We’ve had 4 for over 5 months now and have already recognized a savings with less waste. All 38 Police Horses love the them as there is always fresh clean hay available to them when they are turned out. There is no fighting over the hay and no injuries. We have all sizes and breeds of horses at the Houston Mounted Patrol and all of them love them. They prove the simplest designs are usually the best. Our horses thank you for making such a great product!” – Sgt. Leslie Wills, Houston Mounted Patrol
Road to the Horse Chris Cox uses these feeders to save and preserve the hay. They keep the hay weather protected and are horse friendly.” – Chris Cox
Nebraska Blizzard Hay Feeders for Horses Hi Denis, Just thought I’d let you know the Hayhuts made it through their first Nebraska blizzard just fine! I thought I may find them either full of snow or blown across my feeding area, but, neither was the case. They stayed in place, no snow was inside and the horses had plenty to eat all through the storm! – Mary Anne G. – Nebraska From using one round bale every 3-3 1/2 days to every 5-5 1/2 days I have been using the feeders for not quite a year now. I was about done with round bales before I found these. The horses would waste so much. We had one paddock where we were feeding 1 round bale every 3 to 3 1/2 days. When we started using them, it went to 5, 5 1/2 days sometimes even 6 days. I am now using 1/2 a feeder (one section) in a shed and another on the fence line. We throw small square bales or flakes of hay. There is no waste doing that. When you feed alfalfa to the babies they do not stand on it any more. They love their hay hut. If you ever use one you will not let it go. What a great invention. – Karen Bruce, Irish Oaks Farm
The mini can eat there too “Well it’s been a week and I LOVE it. Loads of rain and all the hay dry. The mini can eat there too, if I put hay high or just put bale under opening. Another satisfied customer. Thanks!” – Vicki – Florida
Be sure to feed smart this summer and receive the economical benefits and ease of use the Horse Hut Hay Feeder offers.
Also visit Barn World today for all of your livestock supplies needs. We also carry a large selection of cattle guards, hay feeders, grain bins and even 5 Star saddle pads.
BarnWorld.com, the online mega-store for livestock supplies like cattle guards and hay feeders, has expanded its already extensive selection to include a line of polyethylene plastic products.
The new large selection expands the wide range of farm and ranch supplies including bulk grain bins, lick feeders, mineral feeders, calf nurseries, and feeders.
The calf nursery line is designed with superior ventilation to separate calves, promote healthy lung growth, prevent disease and allow the calf to develop to its fullest potential.
“BarnWorld.com is always looking for better, animal-friendly products and suppliers to increase the selection available to customers,” said Rob Moore, owner of Barn World. “Environmentally friendly, polyethylene products are the future of livestock supplies.”
“Greater selection helps customers get exactly what they need at a fair price. We are always available by phone to help customers choose the right size bulk grain bins, hay feeders, mineral feeders, and cattle guards for the type of livestock they are working with.”
Polyethylene plastic is a great choice for livestock items. The material is impact resistant and can withstand both temperature extremes and corrosive chemicals. Polyethylene has an easy-to-clean, slippery surface and can be recycled. Products are mostly one piece with no sharp edges or seams to injure livestock. Polyethylene is also lightweight, making products easier to move and less expensive to ship.
The polyurethane bulk grain bins are particularly well-suited to high moisture materials like corn and soybeans.
Barn World, your online livestock supply and cattle guard headquarters. Call (720) 238-2190 or visit www.barnworld.com today!
A creep feeder provides a physical barrier that only allows smaller animals access. They typically have a pen with narrow vertical bars and adjustable horizontal bars protecting entry to the feeder. This allows smaller animals to enter and feed on precious and expensive minerals while keeping adults out.
They provide an essential sorting technique to ensure the young animals have access to the necessary nutrients they need without having to compete with adults. Below are some examples of feeders for different types of animals.
Types of Creep Feeders
Below are a few different creep feeder designs that all provide a safe, non-competitive eating environment away from hungry adults. Creating a stress-free eating area is key to allowing the little ones to get fed without having to push and fight their way in against larger animals.
Goat Creep, FEEDERS,
This feeder can also be used for sheep and will separate the smaller kids from the adults and protect your precious (and expensive) supplements. It is an essential component of an accelerated kidding and/or early weaning management program. It increases pre-weaning weight gains, especially for kids reared as a twin or triplet. They’ll reach a target market weight and can be marketed at a younger age. They all have a covered shelter to help keep the feeder dry and protect it from being blown around in windy areas.
Creep feeding will have your calves ready for market sooner in high-quality condition. Creep feeding also assures less strain on your brood stock. Healthy brood stock means better quality calves year after year.
Nutrition is the key to successful wildlife and game management. And nothing is more important than protein. Protein is essential to the health of your entire herd and the potential for trophy bucks. Whitetail deer need protein all year round, especially after the rut and during the critical 200-day antler-growing period. Protein feeding is the ideal complement to natural forage.
Pictures of Deer Creep Feeders
Barn World carries a large selection of creep feeders, both large and small. To see the full lineup of feeders, please visit Barn World today or call (720) 238-2190.
Mineral Feeders or Mineral Licks are very economical and low-maintenance means of providing essential minerals to your livestock. Keep a steady supply of minerals in a mineral feeder or lick feeder for a healthy animal.
Below is a great article from Working Ranch about the importance of getting your livestock the minerals they need during the winter months. and the attention to the type of supplement quality and quantity.
Barn World also carries a large selection of feed troughs and grain feeders as well as solid mineral feeders and lick tanks to help ensure the proper nutrients are a part of the diet. These feeders are an extremely effective way of making sure your livestock have the important nutrients they need at all times.
From ground mineral feeders like the Dura Life to thewind vane-style mineral feeders like the upright mineral feeder, Barn World has the tools to make sure your animals remain healthy all season long.
Minerals are important for herd health, reproduction and efficiency during winter. However, that is only part of the picture. Extra protein and energy are vital during cold, wet weather. Producers should also be aware of forage and by-product supplementation quality, as well as body condition scores.
“The challenge with minerals is there’s just no single answer,” says Rick Rasby, Ph.D., PAS (Professional Animal Scientist), Beef Extension Specialist, University of Nebraska (Lincoln). “Think about minerals as part of a total diet those animals are eating.”
Rasby encourages producers to sample baled forages for moisture content, protein, energy, and mineral profiles. Once a producer knows his forage quality, he can adjust the mineral package for his herd. He says, “Use the mineral as a supplement to bridge the deficiency gap in those forages that are being consumed.”
He also recommends that producers analyze samples of supplemental feed such as gin trash, cottonseed, or distiller grains.
Many regions with ethanol plants have distiller grains available for the cow/calf sector. Rasby says, “It’s an excellent feed, works well with forages, and is high in protein, energy, and phosphorus as well.”
Typically low in winter forages, phosphorus is a mineral that’s vital for bone and teeth development, and metabolic, neurological, and cellular functions in cattle. It’s also one of the most expensive minerals to supplement. According to Rasby, reducing or omitting phosphorus from the mineral package when feeding distillers grains can save money. Get advice from a nutritionist or beef extension specialist about adjusting nutrient values when feeding these supplemental rations.
In addition to minerals, protein, and energy, utilizing body condition scores (BCS) is a management practice that cow/calf operators can implement regularly. Scores range between one and nine with one being a very poor specimen and nine being obese.
Rasby adds, “Having mature cows in condition score five at calving not only has an impact on what happens at calving but also on how quickly those cows are ready to rebreed after calving. Those first-calf heifers probably need to be in a little bit better condition, say conditioning score six.
“Cows that breed early in the breeding season are in the right nutritional status. Their calves are older at weaning and generate more dollars,” explains Rasby.
Is it right?
How can a cattleman determine if his mineral supplement and diet are on target? “Measure how they perform at calving,” replies Rasby. “Are they good mothers? Do they give enough milk? Does the calf perform well while it’s on its mother? How quickly does the cow get ready to rebreed?”
Providing minerals is crucial to the Thomas Angus Ranch outside of Baker City, Oregon. Located in a valley between two mountain ranges, and flanked by sagebrush hills, owner Rob Thomas says, “We have long, fairly hard winters.”
He provides a custom mineral mix to his spring and fall calving herds, depending on forage analysis to fine-tune the supplement package. Thomas says, “We increased levels of zinc, copper, and selenium, the three minerals we’re deficient in.”
Beginning in November when snow is on the ground, he’ll feed alfalfa and grass hay. He says, “We put up a lot of our hay, so we feed what we put up. We test our feed to see what minerals we need.”
As a result of their efforts he reports, “We have healthier cattle, better immune response, fewer treatments, and a lower death loss. We see increases in reproduction and gain and better feed utilization, which is important right now. With extremely high feed prices, we want to utilize every bit of that feed, if possible.”
Across the country, Kevin Yon raises Angus cattle in the mild winters of west central South Carolina. He provides three mineral mixes: summer, winter, and one for young growing livestock. Yon says, “Our winter mineral program doesn’t differ drastically from our summer mineral program. We include a higher level of magnesium to prevent grass tetany. If all goes well we hope to have lush grazing on a limited basis, even in December and for sure in February and March.”
His winter diet includes stockpiled forages such as Fescue or Bermuda grass. When possible, Yon likes to have rye grass or small-grain winter annuals on hand. He explains, “It could be a combination of those and sometimes we’ll use a protein or energy supplement, which could be commodity by-products, such as whole cottonseed, dried distillers grains, or corn gluten.”
He analyzes feed, grains, and commodity by-products, seeking advice from a nutritionist to adjust his mineral program as needed.
“It’s important to have a year-round high-quality mineral program,” Yon advises. “That’s not always the cheapest bag of mineral, but it has the high levels that are needed for cattle in your area. The cheapest bag is not always the best.”
Yon finds that his cattle have a more consistent consumption if he allows free choice at all times. He says, “Know what the consumption rate should be and monitor that. In our part of the world, a covered mineral trough is important so the mineral doesn’t get wet, cake up and the cattle don’t eat it.
“As a producer, I see the benefit of minerals.” Yon explains, “The biggest for us is reproduction, cow herd efficiency, immune response, cattle health, and growth and development. At our place, we try to feed a cow as cheap as we can because 60-70 percent of our annual cost involves nutrition. We don’t see that minerals are the place to skimp.”
Thomas also recommends feeding minerals, saying, “Do it based on science. Go ahead and get a forage analysis based on what you’re feeding and do that every time you get a new batch of feed, so you know what you’re feeding and what minerals you need to add to the ration.”
Rasby says, “To be competitive, you’re going to have to watch feed costs. How you put together feeding programs to meet your herd’s nutritional needs is going to be critical.”
To find a list of certified feed testing laboratories, check out: www.foragetesting.org.
PROTEIN AND ENERGY
“Minerals don’t do much if you’re not doing a good job of covering your water, energy, and protein needs for those cows,” advises Ken Bryan, PAS, and Ruminant Specialist with Cargill. “A balanced diet is important because you have the added stress of environmental conditions like cold, wet weather, mud, and wind, which are going to increase the cow’s nutritional requirements.”
Adequate amounts of energy and protein are critical during winter conditions. “If a cow will eat twenty-four pounds of dry matter in forage, she’s going to get all the energy she needs,” Bryan explains. “If that rumen is functioning well, she’ll break down the fiber and utilize that feed. That’s your energy source.”
Protein, a much-needed nutrient in cattle diets, is composed of true protein and nonprotein nitrogen. Protein in forages will gradually decline, providing less protein as winter progresses, with a higher percentage of fiber. “The nasty thing about fiber is a high fiber, low-quality forage diet will restrict intake,” Bryan says. “Now we’re going to supplement with a protein source. The nice thing is, there are options for protein supplementation.”
“There’s the old standby, cake or range cubes, protein tubs or blocks and leftovers from oil seed products such as sunflower, cotton seed, or soybean meal and distillers grains from corn. Look at the most economical way to deliver protein to the cow.”
Bryan cautions, “We’ve got to keep a minimum amount of fiber in that diet as we feed energy supplements. We’re going to cause some long-term changes in that cow’s rumen… we’ll ruin her if we feed her like a feedlot steer.”
Here is a great article from Working Ranch about the importance of getting your livestock the minerals they need during the winter months and the attention to the type of supplement quality and quantity.
Barn World also carries a large selection of mineral feeders and mineral licks to help ensure the proper nutrients are a part of the diet. A mineral feeder is an important part of facilitating the absorption of minerals.
From ground mineral feeders like the Dura Life to the wind vane style mineral feeders like the upright mineral feeder, Barn World has the tools to make sure your animals remain healthy all season long.
Minerals are important for herd health, reproduction and efficiency during winter. However, that is only part of the picture. Extra protein and energy are vital during cold, wet weather. Producers should also be aware of forage and by-product supplementation quality, as well as body condition scores.
“The challenge with minerals is there’s just no single answer,” says Rick Rasby, PhD, PAS (Professional Animal Scientist), Beef Extension Specialist, University of Nebraska (Lincoln). “Think about minerals as part of a total diet those animals are eating.”
Rasby encourages producers to sample baled forages for moisture content, protein, energy and mineral profiles. Once a producer knows his forage quality, he can adjust the mineral package for his herd. He says, “Use the mineral as a supplement to bridge the deficiency gap in those forages that are being consumed.”
He also recommends that producers analyze samples of supplemental feed such as gin trash, cotton seed, or distiller’s grains.
Many regions with ethanol plants have distiller’s grains available for the cow/calf sector. Rasby says, “It’s an excellent feed, works well with forages, and is high in protein, energy and phosphorus as well.”
Typically low in winter forages, phosphorus is a mineral that’s vital for bone and teeth development, and metabolic, neurological and cellular functions in cattle. It’s also one of the most expensive minerals to supplement. According to Rasby, reducing or omitting phosphorus from the mineral package when feeding distillers grains can save money. Get advice from a nutritionist or beef extension specialist about adjusting nutrient values when feeding these supplemental rations.
In addition to minerals, protein and energy, utilizing body condition scores (BCS) is a management practice that cow/calf operators can implement on a regular basis. Scores range between one and nine with one being a very poor specimen and nine being obese.
Rasby adds, “Having mature cows in condition score five at calving not only has an impact on what happens at calving, but also on how quickly those cows are ready to rebreed after calving. Those first-calf heifers probably need to be in a little bit better condition, say conditioning score six.
“Cows that breed early in the breeding season are in the right nutritional status. Their calves are older at weaning and generate more dollars,” explains Rasby.
Is it right?
How can a cattleman determine if his mineral supplement and diet are on target? “Measure how they perform at calving,” replies Rasby. “Are they good mothers? Do they give enough milk? Does the calf perform well while it’s on its mother? How quickly does the cow get ready to rebreed?”
Providing minerals is crucial to the Thomas Angus Ranch outside of Baker City, Oregon. Located in a valley between two mountain ranges, and flanked by sagebrush hills, owner Rob Thomas says, “We have long, fairly hard winters.”
He provides a custom mineral mix to his spring and fall calving herds, depending on forage analysis to fine-tune the supplement package. Thomas says, “We increased levels of zinc, copper, and selenium, the three minerals we’re deficient in.”
Beginning in November when snow is on the ground, he’ll feed alfalfa and grass hay. He says, “We put up a lot of our own hay, so we feed what we put up. We test our feed to see what minerals we need.”
As a result of their efforts he reports, “We have healthier cattle, better immune response, fewer treatments and a lower death loss. We see increases in reproduction and gain and better feed utilization, which is important right now. With extremely high feed prices, we want to utilize every bit of that feed, if possible.”
Across the country, Kevin Yon raises Angus cattle in the mild winters of west central South Carolina. He provides three mineral mixes: summer, winter, and one for young growing livestock. Yon says, “Our winter mineral program doesn’t differ drastically from our summer mineral program. We include a higher level of magnesium to prevent grass tetany. If all goes well we hope to have lush grazing on a limited basis, even in December and for sure in February and March.”
His winter diet includes stockpiled forages such as Fescue or Bermuda grass. When possible, Yon likes to have rye grass or small-grain winter annuals on hand. He explains, “It could be a combination of those and sometimes we’ll use a protein or energy supplement, which could be commodity by-products, such as whole cotton seed, dried distillers grains or corn gluten.”
He analyzes feed, grains and commodity by-products, seeking advice from a nutritionist to adjust his mineral program as needed.
“It’s important to have a year-round high-quality mineral program,” Yon advises. “That’s not always the cheapest bag of mineral, but it has the high levels that are needed for cattle in your area. The cheapest bag is not always the best.”
Yon finds that his cattle have a more consistent consumption if he allows free choice at all times. He says, “Know what the consumption rate should be and monitor that. In our part of the world, a covered mineral trough is important so the mineral doesn’t get wet, cake up and the cattle don’t eat it.
“As a producer, I see the benefit of minerals.” Yon explains, “The biggest for us is reproduction, cow herd efficiency, immune response, cattle health, and growth and development. At our place we try to feed a cow as cheap as we can because 60-70 percent of our annual cost involves nutrition. We don’t see that minerals are the place to skimp.”
Thomas also recommends feeding minerals, saying, “Do it based on science. Go ahead and get a forage analysis based on what you’re feeding and do that every time you get a new batch of feed, so you know what you’re feeding and what minerals you need to add to the ration.”
Rasby says, “To be competitive, you’re really going to have to watch feed costs. How you put together feeding programs to meet your herd’s nutritional needs is going to be critical.”
To find a list of certified feed testing laboratories, check out: www.foragetesting.org.
PROTEIN AND ENERGY
“Minerals don’t do much if you’re not doing a good job of covering your water, energy, and protein needs for those cows,” advises Ken Bryan, PAS, and Ruminant Specialist with Cargill. “A balanced diet is important because you have the added stress of environmental conditions like cold, wet weather, mud and wind, which are going to increase the cow’s nutritional requirements.”
Adequate amounts of energy and protein are critical during winter conditions. “If a cow will eat twenty-four pounds of dry matter in forage, she’s going to get all the energy she needs,” Bryan explains. “If that rumen is functioning well, she’ll break down the fiber and utilize that feed. That’s your energy source.”
Protein, a much-needed nutrient in cattle diets, is composed of true protein andnonprotein nitrogen. Protein in forages will gradually decline, providing less protein as winter progresses, with a higher percentage of fiber. “The nasty thing about fiber is a high fiber, low quality forage diet will restrict intake,” Bryan says. “Now we’re going to supplement with a protein source. The nice thing is, there are options for protein supplementation.”
“There’s the old standby, cake or range cubes, protein tubs or blocks and leftovers from oil seed products such as sunflower, cotton seed, or soybean meal and distillers grains from corn. Look at the most economical way to deliver protein to the cow.”
Bryan cautions, “We’ve got to keep a minimum amount of fiber in that diet as we feed energy supplements. We’re going to cause some long- term changes in that cow’s rumen… we’ll ruin her if we feed her like a feedlot steer.”
The extreme Texas drought has made hay feeders even more important than ever. Given the extreme conditions and the lack of natural hay and even the lack of hay from neighboring states available to be trucked in, it has become a necessity to have hay feeders that eliminate as much waste as possible
Barn World has a large selection of hay feeders that minimize waste and maximize the amount of hay that gets to your herd. Please view our large hay feeder selection online to minimize the cost of feed and help eliminate any possibility of selling out any livestock.
We have a great selection of combo hay feeders, standard bale feeders, portable hay feeders and stall feeders. In fact, visit BarnWorld for all of your livestock equipment and livestock supply needs.
Below is a succinct article from Progressive Cattleman detailing the severity of the drought Texas is dealing with. We hope that it ends soon and the herds get back to normal quickly.
Texas crop, weather: It’s a ‘no-brain-er;’ sell out herds now!
Tuesday, 16 August 2011 14:10
Written by Tony Okon – Progressive Cattleman COLEGE STATION – With little to no grazing and hay, should livestock producers continue to try to buy feed, move cattle to another state or just sell out?
Many livestock producers have already tried to cut feeding costs by extensively culling their herds, but have held onto enough cows to rebuild their herds if the drought passes, he said.
In some dry years, that might be a good strategy, but not this one, Redmon said.
“It’s unprecedented,” he said. “(We’ve had) the 12 driest months in Texas history, and there’s just not many ways to combat that.”
With grazing and hay supplies next to non-existent in many areas of the state, it’s getting very expensive to buy feed. On average, it’s costing producers “somewhere around a $100 a month to have these animals (cows) stay in the pasture and feed them,” he said.
Another choice is to move cattle elsewhere, most likely another state during this drought, and lease land where there is grazing, Redmon said.
“It could be western Mississippi; it could be eastern Louisiana; or it could be maybe Missouri,” he said. ‘I haven’t talked to anybody this year, but in the past couple of years people have called me from other states and they’ve quoted prices of $20 to $22 per (cow/calf) pair per month. Even assuming that’s $25 or $30 that’s still a far, far cry from $100 a month.”
Of course, one has to add the cost of hauling a trailer load of cattle to the leased grazing, but even with that added cost it still cheaper than trying to buy hay and feed at today’s prices, he said.
“It’s probably going to be $3 to $3.50 a loaded mile –something like that,” he said. “If you just put all that together … the savings could still be tremendous if a person could find a place to put those animals.”
But completely selling out makes more sense yet, Redmon said, given there’s no guarantee this drought will end anytime soon.
“Some people would counter and say it’ll cost more to come back into the business later because conditions will have improved, and more people will be getting back in,” he said. “That’s true. But again, looking at the difference in what it would cost to buy cows and come back in at some later date — versus what they would spend trying to go through this drought — mathematically, it’s just a no-brainer.”
More information on the current Texas drought and wildfire alerts can be found on the AgriLife Extension Agricultural Drought Task Force website athttp://agrilife.tamu.edu/drought/.
AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:
Central: Northern parts of the district received from 2 to 5 inches of rain, but conditions remained largely unchanged. Sale barns were full each Saturday. Cattle were getting thin. All livestock producers were heavily feeding. Hay and water was in short supply. Farmers continued to harvest crops worth harvesting. Many crops were being zeroed-out for insurance purposes.
Coastal Bend: Though light showers were reported in some areas, extreme drought conditions persisted. The cotton harvest was ongoing. Livestock producers continued to sell off herds due to lack of forage. Most watering ponds were dry. Some water wells were also going dry, and some producers were drilling new ones. Many trees were dying or showing signs of drought stress.
East: No rain was received, and the drought worsened. Water levels in stock ponds and creeks were dangerously low. Many trees were dying or going dormant early. Hay was no longer being harvested. Producers were searching for hay to buy. Out-of-state purchases were becoming more common. Ranchers continued culling and selling off herds. Livestock began to show signs of obvious weight-loss.
North: Soil moisture was very short over most of the area. Daytime highs of 100-plus degrees and nighttime lows in the mid-80s continued to be the norm. A few areas received some rain, which might improve pastures if they are not overgrazed and given time to regrow. Without rain, most pastures continued to go downhill. The corn and grain sorghum harvests were nearly complete with yields reported to be slightly above average. Soybeans – those that survived the drought — were also being harvested. Some soybeans were cut for hay and the rest were being plowed under. Corn and milo stalks were being harvested as hay and shipped all over the state. Where there was hay, it was being sold before it was cut. Once baled, hay was being loaded on trucks and shipped out before the baler got cold. Most livestock producers were feeding hay and supplements to cattle. With heavy supplemental feeding and short hay supplies, producers continued to cull their herds and were scrambling to find hay for immediate feeding and for winter. Some livestock producers were selling out. Water was becoming a major concern as ponds were getting very low. Hay producers hoped for late August or September rains so they could possibly produce one more cutting. Trees were dying from the record heat and lack of rain for over 60 days in most areas. Rangeland and pasture conditions were very poor.
Panhandle: Most of the region received scattered showers and cooler weather. Accumulations ranged from a trace to 1.5 inches. The rain and cooler weather was welcomed, but it was not enough moisture to help the very thirsty crops. Soil moisture levels remained very short. Irrigators were watering full swing trying to keep up with water demands. Gray County received hail along with the rain, which stripped the leaves off some cotton and corn. Also, high winds toppled six pivots in that county. The rain greened up some pastures, but more was needed to really make a difference in the very poor conditions. However, the cooler weather did ease water needs and heat stress on cattle. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued. Producers who were trying to hang on to their cattle were buying hay form other states, with hauling costs running $20-$30 per ton.
Rolling Plains: Rain! But the amount varied greatly from county to county. Throckmorton County received from 0.5 inch to 3 inches of rain, while Stephens County received from 0.5 inch to 5 inches. Haskell County received as much as 2.8 inches. Other counties received from 0.1 to 0.8 inch. However, the majority of counties did not receive any measurable moisture. The rain was no help for cotton producers, though it did help wheat growers who would like to plant in September. More moderate temperatures, especially nighttime lows, helped relieve stress on livestock. Cotton was fruiting, but even under heavy watering, fields still looked weak. Producers were weaning and selling calves. Some producers are selling or shipping their cows to out-of-state grazing. Hay was scarce and expensive when available. A few hay producers hoped to have a late-summer cutting. Large trees were beginning to show the effects of too little moisture.
South: Record-high temperatures continued. In Webb County, temperatures of 104 and higher were reported. Some daytime highs reached 108 or even 110 degrees. Rangeland and pastures further declined, forage supplies and stock-tank water levels dropped. Many livestock water tanks had already completely dried out. In Live Oak County, there were record numbers of livestock sales at sale barns. The heaviest livestock culling was taking place in Webb and Zavala counties, where ranchers have completely run out of water resources. Also, feed sources in those counties were very scarce. The western portion of Frio County received 0.5 to 1 inch of rain. Also in that Frio County, the corn harvest was completed, the cotton harvest began and the sorghum harvest was ongoing. Most crops in Jim Wells County were harvested, and fields were ready for fall and winter preparations. In Zavala County, farmers were preparing land for cabbage and spinach planting, and pecan producers were irrigating orchards in the critical kernel-development stage. In Hidalgo County, the cotton harvesting was winding down. In Starr County, farmers were planting sugarcane and fall vegetables. In Willacy County, harvesting of late-planted cotton continued.
South Plains: Some areas received as much as 3 inches of rain. Others got none. The remaining cotton is from two weeks to a month ahead of schedule; and the final stages of flowering or in cut-out. In other areas, cotton was shedding bolls and squares from lack of water. Of the 42,000 cotton acres planted in Garza County, only 8,000 remained. Many producers were planning on an early harvest. High temperatures dropped into the 90s. Most counties were still under burn bans. Some growers chose to dig and harvest peanut vines for hay due to the low pegging rate. White grapes in Yoakum County were harvested, and red grapes were expected to be ready by the end of August. Cattle producers were selling off herds because of shortages of grass, hay and water.
Southeast: The extreme drought did not budge. The month of July closed with a nearly 22-inch rainfall deficit for the year in some parts of the region. Some areas had scattered showers. Grain sorghum and rice fields were being baled and sold for livestock forage. Early July had brought some light rains that allowed for re-growth of grain sorghum. But tests showed very high prussic acid levels. People feeding this forage to livestock were cautioned to test all sorghum grass species before grazing or feeding as hay. Pond levels continued to drop. The condition of cattle continued to decline with the as pastures worsened. Cattle sales were up. Some infestation of red rice was reported in the rice crop.
Southwest: Sporadic showers brought 1 inch to 2 inches of rain to some areas, but most of the region remained completely dry. High afternoon winds created dust storms. Record high or near-record high temperatures of over 100 degrees aggravated the drought. The region remains in wildfire-alert status. Many stock tanks were dry. Forage availability remained well below average for this time of the year. The cotton, watermelon and cantaloupe harvests were all ongoing. Some farmers planted sweet corn for an early fall harvest. Peanuts, pecans and landscape nursery crops continued to make good progress wherever irrigation water was still available. Ranchers were providing supplemental feed for livestock.
West Central: Extremely hot, dry conditions continued. Wildfire dangers remained very high. Some areas reported scattered showers, but not enough moisture was received to make a difference. The heat has destroyed almost everything planted, including gardens. Rangeland and pastures were in poor condition. Trees in pastures were dying at an alarming rate. Stock-water tanks were very low or completely dry. Ranchers were hauling water to most livestock. Hay supplies were very limited. Producers continued to cull livestock herds. More and more livestock producers are selling out.
Photos courtesy of Texas AgriLife Extension Servive, Robert Burns.
Top right: Desperate for hay, the owner of this baler and tractor was trying to harvest a parched field of grass on a neighbor’s property in East Texas. A spark from the baler ignited hay inside, and the resulting fire spread to more than 100 acres. No houses burned, but the operator lost both machines plus his pickup truck, which was parked nearby, according to witnesses.
Middle left: Dr. Larry Redmon, Texas AgriLife Extension Service state forage specialist, during times of better grazing in East Texas.
Bottom right: The 12 Texas AgriLife Extension Service Districts.
