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Publication #DS50

Purchasing, Storage and Commodity Barns1

Harris, B.2

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Recently, a number of Florida dairymen have changed the procedures they use in purchasing feedstuffs for formulating dairy cattle rations. The use of commodity feedstuffs has become prevalent on dairy farms of varying sizes. No longer is the purchasing of commodities and mixing of rations on the farm geared only to large dairies. Present day producers have found that certain commodities purchased tend to improve the quality and reduce the cost of the ration and provide for a more consistent ration. Also, by using the mixer wagon with electronic scales, dairymen have more flexibility in feeding cows according to production performance.Most dairymen who purchase commodities use various premixes to balance their rations. These premixes are usually purchased from a commercial feed manufacturer to assure greater accuracy in their contents. Additives such as sodium bicarbonate and yeast culture may be added in the premix or at the commodity shed. In some cases, dairymen purchase all protein, minerals, vitamins and additives in the premix.A storage facility and capital are needed to purchase and use commodities in the feeding program. In general, the dairyman would need to invest in trailer loads of 20 or more tons of each purchased commodity. Although a commodity shed is advantageous and ideal, it is not an absolute requirement for the use of bulk feedstuffs. Certain feedstuffs such as hominy feed and soybean meal can be handled in upright bins. Also, a number of dairymen have converted older barns to commodity sheds for storing feedstuffs.

Footnotes

1.

This document is DS50, one of a series of the Animal Science Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date September 1992. Reviewed June 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Professor, Dairy Science Department , Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.