Producers often ask me “What is the best feed buy right now?” I used to look at cost per ton and cost per gram of MP in ingredients to answer that question. Now I have developed a spreadsheet to help answer that question more effectively. Since we have limited space for ingredients, we need to choose the best ones that will fit in a very diversified portfolio of rations.
The first limiting amino acid for milk production is lysine. I really try to maximize grams and its ratio to MP first. Based on lysine, distillers, corn gluten feed, soy hulls, soybeans, and corn are all good buys right now. I think we need to be feeding a high forage and higher starch starch ration to create the best income over feed cost for your herd. Less expensive corn looks like the trend, so it fits nicely over sugar and digestible fiber sources right now.
If you have questions about your commodity feeds and which ones are right for you, please call us at (715) 748 2096.