Beef Production Outlook Not Good JContlmMd from Pm* A 26) Most importantly, Harpster said to consider the location of the farm, the capability of storage of a byproduct, the percent dry matter and the nutrients available. Testing feeds, if not being done already, is a must for using bypro ducts, he said. And he said that those who don’t test feeds probab ly should start on developing a bet ter program before considering offering byproducts. In the feed bunk, with normal feeds, appearance, odor, tempera ture, quantity and timing of feed- PENN JERSEY CROP MANAGEMENT MEETING “Creative Opportunities To Increase Farm Profitability ” FEBRUARY 23, 1994 9:30 A.M. to 3 P.M. Holiday Inn, Routes 22 & 512, Bethlehem, PA The conference is designed to present practical, new and creative ideas to help you turn these challenges into opportunities. Our expert speakers and exhibitors will assist in improving profitability and viability, and expanding markets. For Additional Information Call 215-746-1970 or your local county extension office by 2/15/94 SPONSORED BY: Penn State Cooperative Extension; Rutgers Cooperative Extension Soil Con servation Districts and Service; Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service; Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture Poultry & Hog Contracts Available EXISTING PRODUCERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE FOLLOWING: • EXCELLENT SUPPORT SERVICE BY CONTRACT COMPANY • EXCELLENT HEALTH & DISEASE PROGRAM SUPPORT CONTACT FARMER BOY AG...YOUR PROFESSIONAL COMPANY j^^^^ervice ing especially important He said that producers should attempt to be "readers of die feed bunk,” which he said some people just seem to be better at than others. Water consumption is also important with cattle requiring from 8 to 10 gallons per head, per day, in 60 degree weather; 12 to 20 gallons per head in 90 degree weather. He also said that techniques such as implanting which pro vides a 10- to 15-percent increase in average daily gain and reduces ,n\f TO YOUR FARM • CUSTOM DESIGN • NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANNING • ASSISTANCE IN PLANNING YOUR FINANCING • SERVICING BUILDING PERMITS & INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS Full Line Of _ , _ _ _ . — v _ _ . —. FARMER BOY AG. Poultry And inc Hog Needs v S This 2-stage facility features a 50’x215’ brooder building and a 50’x520’ growout building. This Hog Finishing Facility features 2 Rooms of 1,000 head each 410 E. LINCOLN AVE. MYERSTOWN, PA 17067 CALL TODAY 717-866-7565 feed intake by the same amount is currently a practice that is necessary to remain competitive, unless the producers can be paid extra for being not as efficient In other words, develop or find a market which demands beef pro duced otherwise. “Either use the technology, or be compensated,” he said, includ ing the use of ionophores and other practices. Over feeding protein and mark eting at the wrong weight will also hurt the margin. He said that cattle under 600 pounds require feed with about 14 percent protein; those from 700 to 800 pounds require about 13 per cent; and those weight 800 or more require about 12 percent He said those who feed silage can probably reduce those levels by a percent. According to Haipster, “Some of the most expensive feed is free.” He explained, saying that other industry waste, which can be used to feed cattle, represents a risk to cattle, if not fed properly, or if impurities exist Also moisture content may be too significant and actually reduce the amount of nutrients getting into the animal. Basically, Harpster recom mended working with a nutrition ist and pushing a pencil before committing an operation to the use of alternative feeds. However, he said that those who can find byproduct feeds, and can perhaps use their own ingenuity to better make the byproduct feed low risk and consistent may have an opportunity for making profits, at least until others increase the demand for the byproduct. As an example, he cited soybean meal, brewer’s grain, distiller’s grain, beet pulp, and others, which were formerly waste byproducts and over a relatively short lime have become considered a normal feed. As an example of how the use of byproduct feeds can reduce the cost of feeding, he showed a com- parison of his cost feeding conven tionally at $l.Ol per head, per day. which was reduced to 62 cents per head when using cull potatoes, and which was further reduced to SS cents per day using a second byproduct from a local cannery. He said that a producer, before starting to use a byproduct, must know exactly what it is he is con sidering feeding, and all costs involved, including perhaps addi tional time and concentration in working with the byproducts. He also talked about how he and others were able to take a drought year, 3-foot high, no-grain com crop, and convert it into silage comparable to normal year nutri tion levels and stability. He said that they took potatoe wash slurry, and using an injection system, were able to spray at a calibrated rate to achieve a moisture content conducive to proper ensiling, and which provided energy. But then he also showed a slide of an operation which had accepted potatoe byproducts because of low cost and attempted to store them in a dirt-botton trench. The result was disaster. The Cattle Feeder’s Day is part of an overall, all-year program organized and sponsored through the Penn State Extension Service in Lancaster County, and support ing industries, for livestock pro ducers. For more information, call Chester Hughes at (717) 394-6851. Hours: M-F 7:00-5:00; Sat. 7:30-11:30 WE SHIP UPS iMartwCoi^j V I Check Our Warehouse Prices IBIH
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