A tight hay supply continues to elevate hay prices, especially when compared to softening grain prices. Thus, many cattle producers are looking at alternative feedstuffs instead of purchasing hay.
As always, the best way to save money on feed costs is to not rely on purchasing harvested feeds. Year after year, producers who are properly managing pastures and utilizing crop residues to extend the grazing season will capture more profit potential. Even so, drought can interrupt even the best-laid plans.
In the Midwest, corn silage can provide an immediate boost to feed inventories. Obviously, corn silage is a high-energy, palatable feed that will need to be limit-fed or incorporated into a balanced ration to avoid overconditioning cows. Feeding corn silage likely requires different infrastructure on the farm when compared to feeding hay. Proper fermentation is crucial to producing a high-quality, palatable feed that is safe for livestock consumption. If corn is drought-stressed, nitrates and mycotoxins should be evaluated, along with a nutrient analysis. Harvest and storage costs, feed shrink, nutrient removal costs and grain opportunity costs should all be evaluated when determining the cost-effectiveness of corn silage as an alternative to hay.
Poor-quality forages such as baled cornstalks, straw and CRP hay can serve as bulk and filler in beef cattle rations. It is important to view these forage alternatives as components of a diet and not one-for-one replacements for traditional grass/alfalfa hay. They will need to be supplemented to avoid losses in cow performance. Thankfully, byproduct feeds, such as distillers grains, gluten feed, soybean hulls and wheat midds, pair well with poor-quality forages. When incorporated into a balanced ration, especially a total mixed ration (TMR) using supplemental ingredients, these poor-quality forages can serve well as a replacement for hay.
Annual forages and small grains have become more popular hay replacements as baleage and silage technology have evolved. Summer annuals have traditionally been used to fill forage gaps prior to winter. However, much thought and consideration should be given to using cover crops that overwinter and can be harvested in early spring as silage or baleage to build forage supplies. Triticale, cereal rye and wheat are all options to investigate.
Beef cows are amazing creatures, and the rumen microbiome is even more amazing at upcycling nontraditional feeds. I am continually impressed by producers and their ability to think outside the box. While many of these nontraditional feeds pose challenges if offered free-choice, investigating local alternatives that can be incorporated into a TMR ration is worthwhile. A few examples of waste-stream feeds that cattle upcycle would include fruit and vegetable waste, bakery feed, grain milling byproducts, cottonseed hulls, rice hulls, oat fibers, grain screenings and many more. Make sure to work with your nutritionist to incorporate substitutes into a balanced diet.
