Working with the feed industry

Working with the Feed Industry


North America has a very well established feed industry which plays a vital role in livestock

production.

Many of the services provided by the feed industry are not readily obvious to most livestock producers.


Feed companies source large quantities of commodity on the futures market at the best possible price.

Feed companies test all commodities for their chemical analyses and make sure they are free from molds and mycotoxins.

Most feed companies send all ingredients in for chemical analysis at least once a week and adjust their mill data base accordingly.


Feed companies perform feed processing which would be very difficult to accomplish at the farm level. For example, pelleting, extruding, roasting, steam rolling and micronizing.

Many feed companies will work with individual producers to set up payment packages that will reward those who keep their accounts current and paid. They will also work with producers who are experiencing financial stress to develop payment packages within the producer’s means.


Feed companies work closely with the legislative bodies in their respective countries, in Canada it is the Canadian Feed Inspection Agency (CFIA) to ensure our livestock feed industry is one of the safest in the world.

Feed companies keep “retainer” samples of all feeds made for 3-6 months.


Nutritionists at feed companies will study new ingredients and feed additives and determine if they will be of any benefit, either financially or from an animal health and welfare view point for their customers.

Feed company nutritionists are constantly updating their knowledge by attending conference and courses. Animal nutrition is a very dynamic field with new concepts being adopted regularly; this is particularly true in ruminant nutrition.


Feed companies will run “best cost” linear programs to develop nutrition formulas that are cost effective but provide the proper nutrition for all species. Many feed companies will run three different lines of feed for a given species: one that is as inexpensive as possible, one that is middle-of the road, and one that is the “Cadillac” version of a feed with all of the bells and whistles.

Most feed companies will work with consulting nutritionists to manufacture “custom” formulations.


Some feed companies have their own forage testing labs. It imperative to make sure that the lab you feed company is using is certified.

Progressive feed company representatives (feed rep’s) will visit farms regularly and make them selves acquainted with a producer’s setup and goals.

A progressive feed rep will communicate well with the producer’s veterinarian and other services providers to ensure a “team” approach with all other consultants.

goals.


Feed rep’s will also perform the following services:•

• Forage sampling and testing• Manure screening and scoring• Body condition scoring (BCS)• Penn State shaker box test• Ration balancing• “Book” feed for a given period e.g. 3-6 months at a set

price. This is done only under specific circumstances.


Many feed companies will tell you that they will test your forages for free. NOTHING IS EVER FREE. If you are not

paying “up front” the charge will be hidden in your feed bill.

There may be an advantage in submitting your forages through your feed company. Most feed companies negotiate

discounts with forage testing labs because of the volume of samples they submit annually, so there may be a cost

saving here. Make sure that the lab your feed company uses in independent

and certified.

What are your legal rights when dealing with the Feed Industry?

A feed company MUST supply you with a complete list of ingredients in a feed if such a request is made. However, they do not have to give you the exact

weights of each ingredient; what they will do is list the ingredients starting with the largest and ending with

the smallest.

Every time you purchase feed either in bags, bulk or in a tote, a CFIA (see below) standard tag MUST be

supplied to you by your feed company.


There are certain guide lines outlined in the Canada Feed Act which specifies the range nutrient

specifications must fall in as guaranteed on the label.

If you are concerned that what you purchased from your feed company is not what you received, have

samples taken by a CFIA inspector for testing.

Working with the feed industry

Business

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