B+LNZ’s FeedSmart calculator valuable feed allocation tool

// Feed planning and strategies

As farmers begin transitioning stock onto winter forage crops, Beef + Lamb New Zealand is encouraging farmers to measure crop yields and pasture covers and calculate allocations to help stock meet their production goals.

image of farmer measuring pasture growth using yard stick

Anecdotally, winter forage crop yields are very variable this year, making it even more important farmers objectively measure the drymatter available in their crops and pastures as winter approaches.

This allows them to put together a feed budget for the next few months so they can identify any possible deficits early and respond accordingly.

B+LNZ encourages farmers to talk to their agronomist about measuring crop yields in winter forage crops and use sward sticks or other tools, such as rising plate meters, to measure pasture covers.

B+LNZ’s FeedSmart feed calculator can then be used to allocate feed to match livestock requirements and make the most efficient and effective use of feed resources.

Once saved to homescreen, FeedSmart can be used in the paddock to calculate the megajoules of metabolisable energy (MJME) required by different livestock classes and the amount of drymatter required to fulfil their requirements – even without an internet connection.

The calculator determines animals’ daily requirements taking into account management objectives (maintenance or growth), pasture or crop quality, topography, pregnancy and lactation.

FeedSmart can then calculate how long a mob can be left in a paddock assuming a required residual cover. It takes into consideration pasture growth rates, utilisation and animals’ needs throughout the grazing period.

It can also calculate the size of the paddock break to meet animal demand.

Supplementary feed can be included in the calculations, and the energy (MJME) of the supplementary feed can be specified in the settings. Supplementary feed is always consumed before pasture or crops when determining allocation.

The settings also include feed utilisation, so how much feed is consumed by animals and how much is wasted. This can be specified in the settings and defaults to 90 percent utilisation. The value entered affects pasture, crops and supplementary feed. 

Further info

  • Feed planning and strategies