Cow-how beef opens up completely new insights into your fattening farm
SCHAUMANN's expert advisory service has been very successful for many years on numerous dairy farms with its own smart platform, Cow-how milk. By evaluating milk yield data, it determines the status quo of the respective farm and suggests specific measures to improve weak points.
The new Cow-how beef module also addresses precisely these points in bull fattening farms. Using official data and your own data, such as feed analyses and ration calculations, SCHAUMANN's expert advisory service can now determine the current status of your bull ration on site and calculate ration proposals for the entire fattening period.
Balance of the ration
Fattening bulls achieve their weight gains primarily through their daily energy and protein intake. Nevertheless, the daily weight gains (ADG) often fall short of expectations on some farms. Cow-how beef reveals where the problem lies. Separately considering ADG from protein and energy allows for targeted adjustment of the ration. On the one hand, this makes your ration consistent, and on the other hand, it avoids expensive overfeeding of the fattening bulls. Figure 1 shows that the farm does not exceed 1,422 g DAW in the middle fattening stage, even though a DAW of 1,673 g from energy would be possible.
Status quo and potential in bull fattening feeding
Cow-how beef includes growth curves for different cattle breeds. When your specialist advisor enters your ration into the programme, you will be shown the weight gains your bulls will achieve in the respective weight range and the total weight gains to be expected during fattening. Figure 2 clearly shows that the farm shown, with 1,422 g ADG in mid-fattening (live weight of 450 kg), cannot exceed the average of around 1,300 g. If the farm wants to achieve an average ADG of 1,500 g, the ADG in mid-fattening must be 1,700 g.
Cost-effectiveness of the ration
In many places, cost reduction in bull fattening is confused with the economic efficiency of a ration. In dairy farming, on the other hand, the income over feed cost (IOFC) ratio is used for calculation purposes. Two rules apply here:
- Rule: increase performance,
- Rule: reduce costs – unless this violates the first rule!
The best way to reduce costs in bull fattening is to increase performance. Cow-how beef shows you whether adjusting a ration pays off in the end (see Fig. 3). What good would it do you to reduce the cost of a ration by €0.12/day if you end up reducing your IOFC by €0.55/day due to lower weight gains?
SCHAUMANN's expert advisors will transparently review your ration, including the simulated IOFC, and show you the costs and benefits of the proposed adjustments.
Conclusion
Cow-how beef offers you comprehensive insights into feeding your fattening bulls like never before. Rations are checked individually and transparently for plausibility, balance, safety and cost-effectiveness. Take advantage of this offer and have your farm checked by your local SCHAUMANN expert advisor. We look forward to hearing from you.