Pellets feed for cattle

The pelleting of feed refers to grinding the feed into small particles and then forming them into a small, hard form called a pellet. Cubing is the same process as pelleting, but the cubes are larger in size than the pellets.

Energy and protein rich feeds can be purchased already formulated and sometimes pelleted as commercial pellets or they can be blended on farm from the raw materials to form a balanced concentrate mix.

Individual feeds or complete rations may be pelleted or cubed. Calf rearing pellets often contain vitamin and mineral additives. Cow pellets are not suitable for rearing calves.

Pelleting has various advantages. Animals are not able to sort the feed which is offered. Moreover, various ingredients may be mixed together and fed as one feed or complete ration.

Under range feeding conditions when supplementation is required, one of the more convenient and practical ways of feeding cattle is by pellets or cubes. Different sizes of pellets can be prepared by changing the diets on the machines.

Pelleting grains gives an increase in feed efficiency of up to 5 percent. Feed efficiency is increased because less feed is wasted when it is pelleted. Complete pelleted rations will slightly increase feed intake.

In United States, Illinois Station indicated greatly increased nutritive value of hay as a result of pelleting it. Pelleting of corn cobs also improve their nutritive value, similarly dehydrating and pelleting the whole plat corn silage will improve its value.
Pellets feed for cattle

Millfeeds for cattle

Millfeeds for cattle
Mill feeds are usually combined with other cereal grains and various supplements when fed to cattle.

They are regarded as very good sources of protein for cattle and can be expected to contain about twice as much protein as barley, grain sorghum or corn.

They are also a very good source of phosphorus and can be used in balancing the rations of lactating cows fed high legumes roughages.

Millrun, midds, bran and red dog comprise about one third of the concentrate mixture in wheat growing areas of the world, of their price is within an acceptable range.

Cattle generally do not like rations composed mostly of millfeeds, but pelleting improves consumption.

Wheat millrun, when pelleted, can be sued as the only cereal ingredient in a concentrate ration for lactating cows.

Bran improves palatability of ground grain meals when added to concentrate rations, but its use is apparently limited to the breeding herd and claves of beef cattle.

Red dog and higher quality midds are often used in calf meals or calf starter rations at 25 to 35% of the grain mixture because they are higher in energy and lower in fiber than other millfeeds.

Sorghum is widely used as an energy source in fattening cattle. Studies with steers showed a marked increase in carbohydrate digestion in the rumen for grain with so-called intermediate endosperm texture as compared to grain with either corneous or floury endosperm.

Flaked grain which has been conditioned by steam promotes after gains in beef cattle at lower feed cost.
Millfeeds for cattle