Ultimate Cattle Fattening Feed Pellet Business Plan
Cattle Fattening Feed Pellet Business Plan
Traditional cattle foods consist mainly of roughages, including grass, hay, and chopped corn stover. The advantage of these roughages is that their price is relatively inexpensive, but have a low digestibility. In contrast, pellet feeds are easy to store, transport and feed, are nutritionally balanced and highly digestible, and help reduce feed waste. The various feed ingredients of pellet feed are scientifically proportioned to meet the nutritional requirements of fattening cattle at different growth stages.
Four Common Feed Pellets for Fattening Cattle
The finishing period is the stage during which animals are raised with a high-energy diet to promote rapid growth, muscle development, and the optimal accumulation of fat in preparation for slaughter. Cattle feed pellets, produced using a feed pellet mill and high pressure, serve as a comprehensive and convenient cattle food option. There is a wide range of feed pellets. there are four popular pellet feeds commonly used for fattening beef cattle.
- Pure Forage (Grass) Feed Pellet：It is exclusively composed of ingredients such as grass, hay, grain straw, stalks, and alfalfa, lucerne, among others.
- Complete Feed Pellet：It is composed of four parts: protein feed, energy feed, coarse feed, and additives. By feeding livestock animals with complete feed pellets, you do not need to feed them other forage water. That’s why it is called "complete”.
- Concentrated Feed Pellet: This kind of feed has incomplete nutrition. It is to supplement herbivorous animals which are based on coarse feed, green fodder, and silage. Therefore, it is also called concentrate supplement/mixed feed.
- Premix Feed Pellet: It is mainly composed of 3 kinds of feed additives: nutritive additives (including trace elements, vitamins, amino acids), drug additives (mainly for preventing disease and promoting length), and general additives (such as various kinds, such as mildew proof and incense enhancer, etc.).
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Cattle Fattening Feed Pellet Business Plan Project Proposal: Key Tips and Strategies
Making cattle feed pellets is an important part of the livestock industry. With the population growing and the farming industry developing, the demand for best feed for cattle continues to increase. Against this farming backdrop, conducting a cattle feed pellet production business plan has become a business opportunity with great potential. This article describes how to plan and conduct a successful cattle feed pellet production business and guides every feed producer to produce good cattle feed at the lowest possible cost.
Cattle Industry Market Snapshot: Getting a Head Start on Investment
In 2022, the worldwide cattle population reached approximately 940 million, showing a slight increase from the previous year, which stood at around 937.7 million in 2021. Looking ahead, it is anticipated that the global average per capita meat demand will rise by 2% from the base period of 2020-2022 to the year 2032.
Global Livestock Meat Consumption Market
Cattle meat such as beef and veal are one of the most widely consumed types of meat across the globe, and is particularly popular in the United States, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, and Canada and so on. The cattle feed pellets industry is currently showing a continuous growth trend. Driven by the rapid development of the farming industry and consumer demand for high-quality meat products, there is still significant growth potential in the cattle feed production industry, especially in developing countries. (Link to The Cost of Cattle Feed Pellet Plant>>)
In middle-income countries, where economic growth, urbanization, and the expansion of the fast-food industry are on the rise, substantial shifts in consumer meat preferences are expected. Meanwhile, in low-income countries, the primary driver for increased meat consumption is projected to be the continued high population growth such as South Africa, Pakistan, Kenya, the area near Punjab.
Food Supply Quantity in Selected Countries
| (Kilograms per capita) | Poultry | Pig | Cattle | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States United | 58.7 | 30.6 | 37.9 | 1.1 | 128.6 |
| Germany | 18.3 | 44.0 | 14.6 | 1.8 | 78.7 |
| France | 23.0 | 31.0 | 20.8 | 3.5 | 78.3 |
| China | 15.6 | 35.5 | 6.8 | 4.2 | 62.1 |
| Nigeria | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 7.1 |
| India | 2.6 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 4.5 |
| World | 16.4 | 14.6 | 9.1 | 2.7 | 42.8 |
Source: FAO（Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations）
Key Nutritional Tips for Beef Cattle Feed Formulation
Raw Materials of Cattle Feed Pellets
- Energy: The primary factor influencing cattle weight gain is energy intake. Therefore, maximize energy intake during the finishing period. Breeders give to provide barley, wheat, oats, millet to cattle.
- Protein: Steers and heifers typically have a lower protein requirement during the finishing period. Aim for a diet with 11-12% crude protein (CP) per kilogram of diet dry matter (DM). For growing bulls (up to 550 kg live weight), target 13-14% CP per kilogram of diet DM. For finishing cattles (weighing over 550 kg), aim for 11-12% CP per kilogram of diet DM.
- Fiber: When forage constitutes a significant portion of the diet, fiber levels are likely to be sufficient. If feeding meals ad lib, make sure that cattle receive at least 10%-15% of their dietary dry matter as straw, hay, or grass silage to maintain rumen function.
- Minerals: All finishing animals should receive appropriate mineral supplementation throughout the finishing period. For diets based on grass silage, a general-purpose mineral is suitable. If using alternative forages (e.g., maize silage) or fodder/sugar beet feed, opt for a maize/beet mineral. When using ad lib concentrate diets, ensure that the mineral inclusion rate matches the feeding rate of the ration.
- Water: The water requirement of finishing cattle depends on the proportion of dry feeds i.e., concentrates on the diet. Cattle on an ad lib diet will have a significantly higher water requirement compared to those on a grass silage-based diet. Under normal conditions (with free access to feed, silage, and water), a single animal will consume approximately 20 liters of water over a 24-hour period. This consumption may be 1.5-2.0 times greater for animals on ad lib concentrate systems.
In addition, feed plant can add these easily available raw materials such as sweet molasses, copra, creep, brachiaria etc. to the cattle feed for improving the odor and taste of the feed, thus improving the appetite and nutritional intake of the cattle.
Strategies for High-Quality Fattening Cattle Feed Formulation
The main cattle fattening feed formulas include silage corn stover type diets, dry corn stover type diets, lees type diet (DDG) so on. The specific ingredients and proportions of different fattening cattle feed pellet formulas usually vary depending on the region, farming method and growth stage of the cattle. However, some sample data can generally be provided for better understanding. Here is some data about general feeding cattle/cow feed pellet formulas that you can refer to appropriately:
Formulation of Fattening Cattle in Different Stages
| Weight stage | 300 ~ 350kg | 350~ 400kg | 400 ~450kg | 450 ~500kg | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | ① | ② | ① | ② | ① | ② | ① | ② |
| Concentrate Ration / % | ||||||||
| Corn | 71.8 | 77.7 | 80.7 | 76.8 | 77.6 | 76.7 | 84.5 | 87.6 |
| Bran | 3.3 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 5.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Cottonseed meal | 21.0 | 16.3 | 12.0 | 15.6 | 18.0 | 14.2 | 11.6 | 8.2 |
| Urea | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.2 |
| Salt | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 1.2 |
| Stone powder | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| Daily Concentrate amount | 5.2 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 6.1 | 5.6 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Nutritional Levels | ||||||||
| Beef cow energy unit (RND) | 6.7 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 10.2 |
| Crude protein/g | 747.8 | 936.6 | 756.7 | 713.5 | 782.6 | 981.76 | 776.4 | 818.6 |
| Calcium/g | 39 | 43 | 42 | 36 | 37 | 46 | 45 | 51 |
| Phosphorus/g | 21 | 36 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 28 | 25 | 27 |
Cattle Feed Recipes for Different Stages
| Unit: kg | Roughage Feed | Concentrate Feed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kind | Corn silage | Straw | Alfalfa hay | Recommended recipes | Dosage |
| Calf | 8 | 2 | 1 | Corn 60%, Caraway Cake 20%, Bran 20% | 1.5-2.0 |
| Pregnant cow | 10 | 3 | 1.5 | Corn 65%, Bran 35% | 2.5-3.0 |
| Milk (dairy) cow | 12 | 3 | 1 | Corn 70%, Caraway Cake 10%, Bran 20% | 3.0-4.0 |
| Fattening cow | 10 | 4 | 1 | Corn 85%, Caraway Cake 5%, Bran 10% | 5.0-6.0 |
It is important to note that the actual beef cattle feed pellet formulation will be influenced by the specific needs of the farmer and the available ingredients. Therefore, the beef cow feed manufacturer adapts it to the specific situation.
Cattle Feed Pellet Production Process Unveiled
Successful implementation of the cattle fattening feed pellet process is critical to ensure cattle health, promote growth, and improve farm profitability. The main steps of this critical cattle feed production process are outlined below:
Cattle Feed Pellet Production Process Flow Chart
- Ingredient Preparation
Prepare a variety of ingredients according to the cattle food formulation to ensure a complete and balanced feed. Initial confirmation of ingredient quality and collection of representative samples. When tons of feed raw materials are purchased and stored, attention should be paid to preventing moisture to prevent affecting the sale of pellet feed.
- Crushing and Milling
Ingredients are mechanically crushed and milled to help improve the digestibility of the feed. Typically, the appropriate particle size for cattle feed is not more than 2.0mm. (More about Crush Mill>>)
- Mixing and Blending
Using intelligent calculators to mix various ingredients in precise proportions to ensure that the various nutrients in the feed are evenly distributed to meet the overall needs of the cattle. (More about Mixer Equipment>>)
- Pellet Molding
Feed pellet machine makes mixture into pellets through mechanical pressure and elevated temperature, which improves storage stability and ease of ingestion by cattle. Generally, the hardness of the pressed feed pellets should be 0.06-0.12 MPa (0.6-1.2 kgf/cm²) and the chalking rate should not exceed 10%. (Link to Cattle Feed Pellet Machinery Price>>)
- Drying and Cooling
Pellets are passed through a drying process to reduce moisture and prevent mold growth, and subsequently cooled to improve the quality of the pellets. The moisture content of the finished pellets generally does not exceed 12.5%, with an optimal moisture content of 10-12%. (More about Pellet Cooler Equipment>>)
- Packaging and Storage
Feed pellets are packaged to maintain their quality, prevent bulk contamination. And whole bales of feed facilitate storage and transportation. Storage conditions are ensured to be dry, ventilated and away from sunlight. (More about Pellet Packing Machine>>)
The details of feed pellet making process may vary depending on the scale of production and demand. But ensuring that quality control and hygiene standards are adhered to is essential for making high quality cattle feed pellets. (Read more about How to Start a Cattle Feed Plant>>) If you are looking for a trusted partner for your cattle fattening or cattle feed pellet making needs, we encourage you to contact us. We will be happy to provide you with excellent feed pellet machines and services to help you succeed in cattle fattening and feed pellet processing. Please feel free to contact us if there is any need. We will provide you with FREE and professional answers!
Uncovering Common Feed Mistakes in Cattle Fattening
When exploring how to make a cow gain weight faster and what is the best cattle feed for weight gain, there are often misconceptions. These misconceptions not only adversely affect the health and well-being of cattle, but also cause farms to lose money. Here are some truths you may not know about making cattle gain weight quickly:
- Increasing supplementary concentrate boosts live and carcass weight gains, but the rate of improvement diminishes. The benefit from each extra kilogram of concentrate is less, especially with high levels of supplementation.
- Animals with higher growth potential respond more positively to concentrate supplementation compared to those with lower growth potential.
- Feed efficiency in finishing beef cattle primarily depends on the animal's weight (efficiency decreases as live weight increases), their potential for carcass growth (e.g., breed, genetics, gender, compensatory growth potential), and the duration of the finishing period (efficiency decreases as the period lengthens).
- What is the best feed for cows?
- The best cattle fattening feed usually includes high-quality hay, silage, soybean meal and corn to meet their high protein and energy needs. In addition, the right number of vitamins, minerals and water are important beef cattle food components for cattle to be slaughtered.
- How do you fatten up a cow quickly in feedlot?
- To fatten a cow quickly, feeders should provide high-energy and high-protein feeds, control the feeding environment to minimize movement and stress, and ensure adequate water and medical care. A long winter is more conducive to beef cattle fattening.
- How much feed does a fattening cow eat per day？
- Feed steers daily with concentrate rations of 1-2 kilograms per day (2.2-4.4 pounds/day) during the fattening period. Give roughage daily at 3% of body weight if given air dry or 8.75% if given fresh (wet).
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