Free MLC ration program aids silage decisions
Free MLC ration program aids silage decisions
By Emma Penny
BEEF producers basing winter feeding around silage can now obtain a free rationing computer program from the MLC.
The program is aimed at helping producers balance silage rations to ensure cost-effective finishing, and was developed by the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland at Hillsborough.
The MLCs beef scientist Duncan Pullar says the commission is making the computer program, which runs on Microsoft Excel, available free.
"It is part of an MLC-funded technology transfer exercise, bringing research data together and producing a rationing program for silage finishing systems. There are lots of other rationing programs, but this is the only one which deals specifically with silage finishing supplemented with concentrates."
Dr Pullar says the program uses silage intake factor or the silages chemical composition to work out silage intake and concentrate required to balance that for a specific group of beef finishers.
"Where producers have their silage analysed, they can enter the analysis into the simple program and it will predict intake based on that. It will give a range of responses – liveweight gain figures – based on the silage fed and a range of concentrate levels fed."
The program is tailored to specific systems, so concentrate details can be entered, as well as breed of animal to be fed, body condition and the length of finishing period. Cost/kg of buying the cattle to be rationed, initial liveweight, final liveweight or carcass weight and predicted selling price can also be added.
When rations are calculated, the range of choices all feature daily liveweight gain, final weight, carcass weight, days to final liveweight, total silage intake, margin over feed costs and dietary protein.
As an example, when feeding Charolais cross steers from 350kg liveweight to 550kg in six months, cattle fed 20%DM silage at 10ME will require 3kg of a 16% crude protein supplement fed with 5.77t a head silage to give 540kg steers grown at 0.96kg a day. Where silage of 12ME is available, liveweight gains of 1.11kg a day can be achieved to finish at 552kg where steers are fed 2kg 16% CP concentrate and 6.46t silage a head.
"The difference in margin a head between the two silage samples is about £39, so good quality silage pays. Feeding the better quality 12ME silage with 3kg supplement would reduce the margin by £5 a head, so it is vital to know what you are feeding. A correct analysis is vital," says Dr Pullar.
ADAS nutritionist Bruce Cotterill agrees. "There is a lot of variation in silage clamp quality this year. Analysis is only accurate where silage samples are representative.
"There is considerable variation within clamps, and the only way to minimise that is to do core samples. This probably means getting someone who has a corer to do the sampling, for instance, your adviser or feed supplier. Take three samples from different, random areas of the pit, mix them and get this sample analysed."
But where sampling the clamp face is the only option, take fresh samples from different areas. Ensure samples reach the lab as soon as possible, he says.
lCopies can be obtained free from Lindsey Tapp or Carole Game at the MLC (01908-844271), or e-mail lindsey_tapp@mlc.org.uk *
SILAGE PROGRAM
• Available free.
• For beef finishing.
• Correct analysis vital.