One of the biggest concerns for farmers at the moment is high animal feed prices. They have been on the rise for a while now, putting pressure on farms around the world. There are a number of reasons for this, including increases in the price of wheat and soybean. On top of that the more volatile weather has had a big impact on harvests. Then there is also fallout because of covid and the war in Ukraine.

With high prices, farmers should be looking at ways they can reduce how much they spend on feed. There are a number of things to try, including tips for how you buy it, when you buy, and how to manage it. We want to look at some of them here with you.

Buy in bulk

The first tip may not be a new one for many farmers. Buying in bulk can often save you a good amount. All you need to do here is ensure you store products properly and use them before the best before date. You could potentially save even more if you start a cooperative with other farms in your area. Buying together in one order and then splitting it could reduce costs for everyone.

Compare prices

We’ve all seen adverts about comparing prices for everything from car and home insurance to credit cards. The same applies to animal feed. It can be a good idea to look at different suppliers to see how much they are charging. You can then do a comparison and see who you want to buy with. Just remember to think about all the costs, including delivery.

Buying at the right times

A good thing to do is buy feeds at different times of the year. Winter feed may be cheaper to purchase in summer and vice versa. You could buy at these times when prices are lowest and stockpile for when you will start needing it. You just need to ensure you store everything correctly to keep it fresh and don’t exceed the best before date.

Grazing

One of the easiest things you can do to reduce animal feed use is to allow animals to graze more. Grazing outside can be the main part of their diet. You can then add to it with additional feeds if necessary to ensure every animal gets the right mix of nutrients.

Keep an eye on use and waste

Every farmer should monitor how much feed they are using and how much waste there is. If you are wasting a lot on a daily basis, you can reduce how much you give to animals. Ideally you want to keep waste as low as possible so you are not throwing money away. This can also help you to note any change in intake that could indicate problems with the herd such as disease.

Make sure you have a market

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you should ensure you have a market in mind for your products. It is wise to do this before you even start production. It can give you an idea of what you need to do in terms of feeding and other inputs to achieve weight gains and productivity. In turn this means you won’t be wasting money by keeping animals for longer than you should or overfeeding.

Speak to us if you need animal feed

JS Hubbuck Ltd has been supplying agricultural products for over thirty years. We began by specialising in fertiliser but have grown to offer feeds, clothing, and much more. Our goal is to provide a friendly, reliable service for every single customer. We want to be the supplier you enjoy working with whenever you need to order something.

So, if you want to work with us to source animal feed or anything else, please get in touch. You can also browse some products on our website, but it is only a small selection.