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By-Product Feeds for Beef Cattle

By-product feeds are the leftovers from making food, fuel and other goods. For beef cattle they can be a useful source of energy or protein, but they vary widely, and buying them well takes some homework.

What by-product feeds are

By-products come from industries such as milling, brewing, distilling, oilseed processing and sugar production. Cattle can use many of these as feed because ruminants digest fibrous and processed materials that people cannot.

They can stretch forage, fill gaps in energy or protein and sometimes cost less per unit of nutrition than conventional feeds. They can also create problems if used carelessly.

Because by-products come out of other businesses, supply can change. A plant may shut down, change its process or stop selling to small buyers, so have a backup plan for feed.

Why quality and content vary

The same type of by-product can change from plant to plant and from load to load. Moisture, fat, protein, fiber and mineral content may differ, and some products are very wet while others are dry and dusty.

Because of that, ask for a recent analysis from the supplier and get your own sample tested when you can. Your nutritionist or extension specialist can interpret the results and help you fit the product to your cattle.

Ask how long the product keeps once delivered and whether it needs to be fed within a set time. That one answer can decide whether a load is practical for your herd size.

• Ask for a feed analysis
• Ask how consistent loads are
• Ask about moisture and storage needs
• Ask about any additives in the product

Matching the feed to the cattle

Different classes of cattle have different needs. A growing calf, a lactating cow and a dry cow do not require the same ration. A by-product that suits one group may be wrong for another.

Some by-products are high in minerals, fat or sulfur that can cause trouble if overfed, and some affect the balance of the whole ration. Let a nutritionist build the ration instead of adding a product by guesswork.

Introduce new products slowly and write down what share of the ration they make up, so you can find the cause quickly if cattle go off feed.

Storage, handling and feeding logistics

Wet by-products can spoil quickly, especially in warm weather, and dry ones can bridge, clump or blow away. Plan storage, trucking, bunk or feeder space and how you will mix and deliver feed before you commit to a load.

Think about labor and equipment too. A cheap product that is hard to handle can cost more than a pricier one that is easy to feed.

Dry products can be dusty and hard on lungs, so wear a mask when handling them and keep ventilation in mind around bins and mixers.

Safety, additives and residues

Some by-products may contain additives or residues from processing. Ask the supplier what is in the product and whether it is approved for cattle. Do not feed anything that is labeled for another species or not intended for cattle.

Follow label directions on any feed additive and talk with your veterinarian and nutritionist before using unfamiliar products. Contact the supplier or FDA guidance if you have questions about feed safety rules.

If the supplier cannot tell you what is in a product, treat that as a reason to look elsewhere.

Buying smart

Compare by-products on the basis of cost per unit of usable nutrient, plus hauling and handling, rather than price per ton alone. Ask a nutritionist to help with that math. Watch freight, because heavy wet products can cost a great deal to move.

Keep records of what you bought, what it tested and how cattle did. Over time those notes show whether the product earns its place in the ration.

Ask neighbors who have used the same product how it handled and what surprised them. Local experience often points out costs that never show up on a price sheet.

Common mistakes and what to ask

Common mistakes include buying on price only, skipping testing, ignoring storage, and changing rations suddenly. Cattle need time to adjust to a new feed, and abrupt changes can cause digestive upset.

Ask your nutritionist: Does this product fit my cattle? How much of the ration can it be? What risks should I watch for? Ask the supplier: What is in it, and how consistent is it?

• Introduce new feeds gradually under advice
• Watch for digestive trouble and call the vet
• Keep feed records

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