In this opportunity, we are going to take you to figure out how you can prepare a total mixed ration for beef cattle that you care for in your barn. This is an important thing to take note of as how you manage the ratio holds the key to achieving improvement in both productivity and profitability.
Contents
Management of Total Mixed Ration (TMR)
When it comes to preparing a total mixed ration for beef cattle, it’s good to know that forages you choose for the ration are already chopped before going through ensiling. If you want to be meticulous about it, you need to keep the particles in silage within the length range of 3/8 to ¾ inches. In making a ration, you should also make do without forages whose particle is just too fine.
The same goes for grains that are too coarse or whole. Cattle typically avoid one thing in their ration: forages of long particles. This is due to those forages being less palatable. Instead, they would go for ration containing finer particles.
This, however, will eventually lead to a host of metabolic disorders, with SARA (Subacute Ruminal Acidosis) being the most common. A TMR that is sorted this way isn’t a balanced one as it has too many fermentable carbs and less useful fiber. If the cattle are left sorting a ration of this type, you will have lost too much time, expense, and effort in preparing it without actual results.
You can determine the number of animal groups that should be given a TMR by figuring out the size of the existing herd, loafing areas, and the barn’s layout. Ideally, a total mixed ration for beef cattle should be given to animals within the following 7 groups:
· High production lactating.
· Medium production lactating.
· Low production lactating.
· Far-off dry.
· Close-up dry.
· Pre-breeding.
· Post-breeding.
Cattle that are of the first-lactation group should be placed separated from others. Cattle that are of first-lactation condition are capable of responding pretty well if they are given enough space, not overcrowded. This practice, however, is applicable if and only if the farm is in an accommodating size.
Things to Be Cautious of
Limitations exist for farms working with a TMR system for 1 or 2 animal groups. Formulation of the rations is less flexible, so specific needs can’t be met right away. Cows of the low-production group, for example, will be given the same kind of forage given to those of higher ones. In farms working with 3 animal groups, cattle of the low category can be given forage of cheaper variety to control costs.
TMR system for 1 animal group tends to require higher feed costs. This is due to the addition of expensive ingredients to the total mixed ration for beef cattle such as sources of protein that’s not degradable, fats, and some additives during the later stage of lactation.
Dry cows, specifically, should be separated into close-up and far-off groups. Disorders related to nutritional intakes and the metabolic process can be minimized by implementing a TMR system of two-group variety, especially during both postpartum and calving periods. For heifers, dividing them into pre-breeding and post-breeding groups to be given a TMR is important. Young heifers normally aren’t able to digest diets with high forage contents.
Are There Any Other Concerns?
There are some other factors in the total mixed ration for beef cattle to take into account.
1. You should make sure that the ration is available for up to 24 hours every day. Maximum intake of the feed can be promoted by limiting the refusals for the fresh group within 2 to 4%, for high groups within 1 to 3%, and for late-lactation groups within 0.5 to 3%. Don’t let the feed refusal go more than 4%. Feed refusals can then be redirected toward older heifers or steers. These refusals shouldn’t go to pre-fresh and fresh cattle.
2. If grain or hay is given separately from the total mixed ration for beef cattle, the amount should be kept to 2 to 5 pounds per day per head. The TMR will lose its advantages if too many feedstuffs are given separately.
Final Words: A Helpful Tip
Need info on how to prepare a total mixed ration for beef cattle effectively? We have a line of feed mixers that you can choose to prepare it. Curious as to how you can get one? Well, why don’t you drop by and ask us right away?