Improve profitability in your feedlot

There are many diverse types of feedlots being used in our Australian livestock industry. The full-time feedlot has become a very successful part of both our beef and lamb meat industry, through to the on-farm feedlot, used when seasonal condition dictates or when opportunities may arise to add value on the farm.

As all livestock producers know, there are considerable costs in feeding supplementary feed to stock to gain weight. The cost of feed per head, time per head in the feedlot, weight at entry and optimum exit weight to receive best returns are crucial parts of the feedlot cost that must be closely scrutinized to ensure profitability.

The infrastructure in a feedlot is a vital key to the enterprise and the time spent working this out will govern whether you make money, cut even or quite possibly lose money in the exercise.  Well-designed pen systems need to include ease of movement from pen to pen, good drainage and shade if possible. Well-designed feed access and good quality water access are also important.

Good animal husbandry in a feedlot equals profitability

Animal husbandry is a fundamental part of feedlot success and if not done properly will certainly mean the exercise will not be profitable. This is a part of the feedlot system where the most gains in profit can be made by good management of livestock and begin at the selection of your animals. The livestock should be in a score condition and weight range that suits your feeding time; buying larger lines of ideal animals is always an advantage but is not always possible.

Help your livestock best adapt to your feedlot

The time spent adapting an animal into a feedlot is an area that has been identified by most feedlot operators as an ongoing issue that requires improvement. Entry and exit from feedlots are two parts of the feedlot process where Beachport Liquid Minerals livestock supplements can make a difference by naturally calming your animals in with our Green Cap product.

Animals coming into a feedlot are under stress; their routine, eating habits, and herd or mob hierarchy are drastically changing. The time these animals take to adapt to the feedlot routine and start to put on weight is vital to the profitability of the feedlot enterprise. If an animal spends time in an induction or hospital pen, this affects that animal’s overall performance and productivity, therefore reducing profitability for that animal.

A calmer animal performs better

At Beachport Liquid Minerals, we are aware that a calmer, quiet animal, always performs better. We also understand that an animal that is stressed will go to water before it will go to feed. The Green Cap product is proven to reduce stress in cattle naturally and is easily dispensed into the water supply using a stainless-steel dispenser as soon as the livestock are introduced to the feedlot yards. By reducing the animals’ stress, the animal is more likely to go to feed sooner and adapting to the new surrounds quicker.

Green Cap is not a daily dose system, the product dispenses over a 48 to 72 hr period. With the products’ absorption and retention qualities, it is a one-off application that can aid in feed conversion benefits that can last for up to 6 weeks. By getting the entry animals to adjust to their new conditions and feed routines quicker, you can achieve optimum weight gain and performance.

Reduce stress during exit from a feedlot

The exit from the feedlot is another key area that can be improved and is an important issue feedlot managers are closely monitoring always. Beachport Liquid Minerals Green Cap product has a natural electrolyte base that has a calming effect on animals to aid in hydration whilst being transported. Many of our clients have found they can expect up to a 50% decrease in normal shrinkage rates, especially on medium to long-haul transportation when using the Green Cap product.

Green Cap can also assist in slaughter animals where we have found an increase of 1% to 1.5% in carcass yield is not uncommon.

Make every dollar count

The cost of Green Cap for a 500 Kg exit animal is approximately $1.00 per head.  At the exit from the feedlot or property, Green Cap used with the BLM Dispenser allows great flexibility to dose animals. Considering the gains in carcass yield and shrinkage rates that are achievable when using Green Cap, the cost benefits far exceed the dose per head cost. Check out our dose rate calculator here to find out how much it will cost to dose your mob.

You must make every available dollar you can – you only get to sell them once.

If you would like to discuss how Beachport Liquid Minerals can fit into your feedlot regime please contact our team.

 

Written by Kym Sutherland
CEO
November 2017