TMRs are a option when the hay is short in beef operations, but is it the right option?
Weather and economic conditions over the past couple of years have caused a strain on cattle operations throughout the region. Hay will likely be in short supply this winter pushing up its price. In addition, the hay that many farmers have on hand may be lower quality. These factors may lead producers to search for ways to stretch the hay they have and to implement new strategies to meet the nutritional needs of their cow herds.
Total Mixed Ration (TMR): Dairy farmers have utilized total mixed rations (TMRs) for years to ensure their cattle receive all the nutrients required for optimal production. Due to the drought and current hay conditions, some beef producers may want to consider feeding their herds a TMR as well. A TMR consists of ground hay mixed with concentrates like grains, proteins, vitamins and minerals. “If people have the means to do it, it is very beneficial. It lets you know exactly what the cow is getting nutritionally,” Monty Rexwinkle, Carroll County extension agent with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said.
Livestock specialists stress the importance of testing hay prior to incorporating it into a TMR.
“With hay we have a great big spread (between high-quality and low-quality), and we need to know one way or another what we are actually getting to the animal,” Rexwinkle explained. The results from a hay test will give the producer information on the nutritional value of their hay.
The nutritional value of the other TMR inputs, such as corn or soybeans, remain fairly constant compared to the varying nature in nutritional value between different batches of hay. Therefore, producers putting together a TMR need to know the nutritional value of their hay first, in order to determine the correct amount of other inputs needed to complete the TMR.
TMR Advantages: One advantage to feeding a TMR is it makes it easier for the animal to get all its nutritional needs in one bite, so to speak. Instead of eating different amounts of separate ingredients during the day, the TMR combines everything the animal needs into one ration. This increases the chances the animal gets all the nutrients it needs and makes it easier for producers to monitor daily feed intake.
In livestock operations where hay is in short supply or lacking in quality, feeding a TMR may make sense. “An advantage to TMR as a whole is you have the ability to feed less palatable hay. This can come into play in all regards, but especially if producers are seeking to stretch their hay and want to encourage animals to eat lower quality hay,” Rexwinkle shared. Grinding hay to incorporate in a TMR also reduces hay waste, thus saving money.
Feeding a TMR also helps producers reduce costs because the TMR targets the specific needs of the animal with less guesswork on what the animal is consuming. “Even in limited feeding you are feeding on a percentage of body weight, but if it is higher quality, cows are going to eat less,” Rexwinkle said. “A cow is going to eat what it needs to eat. If we are meeting those needs, it is going to take less of it than if they are lower quality ingredients.”
TMR Disadvantages: There are disadvantages to feeding a TMR. First, it can be time consuming to grind the hay and mix all of the ingredients. Most producers who feed a TMR purchase a TMR mixer which adds to costs. Sometimes hay and straw do not mix well in the TMR mixers. Producers may have to buy equipment to chop the hay and straw to get them to a good consistency prior to putting them in the TMR mixer.
Additionally, producers who feed TMRs to their herds have one single ration. In other words, all the cattle receive the same ration, so producers do not have the ability to feed groups of cattle differently. Therefore, if a cattle operation incorporates TMRs, the cattle should be divided into groups based on size and stage of production. “It’s best to group them into like nutritional needs. For example, animals that are relatively close to the same weight and same stage of gestation – that way you are sure you are meeting the nutritional needs of those cows,” Rexwinkle stated.
As in most aspects of farming, utilizing a TMR depends on each particular operation’s needs and goals. Whether incorporating a TMR is worth the time, money and effort is ultimately up to the producer.
