Frequently Asked Questions

What should I feed my cattle to finish them?

EasyBeef®

EasyBeef® is a high performance complete feed formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of growing cattle. The technology Milne uses to produce EasyBeef makes nutrients in the feed more readily available to cattle, while still allowing the production of a cost effective pellet. Additionally, EasyBeef modifies the rumen bug population, minimising acidosis and other disorders commonly affecting cattle on a grain based diet.
What growth rates in my cattle can I expect using EasyBeef®?
Growth rates achieved using EasyBeef® will depend on the age of animals, genetics, what backgrounding has been done and environmental conditions. Typically cattle on EasyBeef achieve 1.6-1.8kg per day, from induction to processing. It is not uncommon for some animals to achieve 2-2.2kg of growth per day. As an example, yearling Murray Grey X Angus cattle in a feed trial conducted by Milne Feeds achieved an average growth rate of 2 kg/day when fed EasyBeef in self-feeders.
How much EasyBeef® will my cattle eat?
Cattle in a finishing period will eat between 2.3 and 3% of their bodyweight daily, as fed. If you are finishing cattle of 350 kg liveweight they will eat between 9 and 10 kilos of EasyBeef® daily.  As feedlot animals start to finish or get close to their mature weight daily consumption as a percentage of bodyweight typically reduces.  Feed intake for heavy heifers and steers is likely to drop back to close to 2.3% of bodyweight.  Weekly intake for feedlot cattle may also vary considerably depending on environmental conditions, such as excessive heat, which reduces daily intake, or extreme cold, which increases intake.
What feed conversion can I expect form my cattle on EasyBeef®?
Trials done using EasyBeef® have delivered results between 5 and 7kg of pellets per kilogram liveweight gain.  Feed conversion efficiency is strongly affected by cattle genetics, pre-feedlot backgrounding, environmental conditions and how the cattle have been handled.
Do I need to feed hay as well as EasyBeef® to my cattle?
EasyBeef® is a complete diet and has roughage included in the pellet. However, hay should still be fed for the first 10 days of feeding or until the animals are readily eating EasyBeef. Once all animals are eating EasyBeef, hay can be removed from the diet with no adverse effects.  Some producers may prefer to keep some good quality hay/straw available solely to help prevent boredom.
What is the best way to feed EasyBeef® to my cattle?
EasyBeef® can be fed in a number of ways. For feedlotting operations, the feed can be put into bin feeders or bunk feeders. For cattle being supplemented in the paddock, cattle lick feeders or trail feeding a couple of times a week is a better option. EasyBeef formulation means that there is no adaptation phase, so bin or lick feeders can be filled up and 100% access provided from day 1 with no adverse health effects.
Is it better to feed my cattle in a feedlot or paddock?
The decision on whether to lot-feed or paddock feed needs to be based on a number of things:

1) desired outcome of feeding
2) pen/paddock characteristics (shelter, soil type, size)
3) human resources
4) number and class of stock

This is not an exhaustive list of factors. Typically, if you wish to maximise liveweight gain, confinement feeding is the preferred option. Confining stock prevents them wasting energy chasing green pick and reduces the opportunity for excessive feeding. If you wish to simply maintain stock condition you would not normally confine them, except to preserve pasture germination or prevent erosion in dry conditions.
How should I prepare my bulls for sale?

EasyBeef® Pellets

EasyBeef® is a high performance complete feed formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of growing cattle. The technology Milne uses to produce EasyBeef makes nutrients in the feed more readily available to cattle, while still allowing the production of a cost effective pellet. Additionally, EasyBeef modifies rumen bug population, minimising acidosis and other disorders commonly affecting cattle on a grain based diets. Cattle breeders using EasyBeef to finish bulls have found the animals grow out well without encountering nutritional or lameness conditions seen using other feeds.
When should I prepare my bulls for sale?
For the best result young bulls should be kept on a rising growth plane from weaning through to sale. Trials have shown that young cattle need to be growing at a rate not less than 400gms/hd/day. If a young animal's growth rate drops below 400gm/hd/day for longer than two months they may be permanently stunted. Keeping young stock growing continuously eliminates the need to intensively feed them close to the sale date. A steady growth pattern also ensures animals' muscles and bones fully develop and strengthen without undue stressors and allows them to develop a strong immune system. If cattle have been steadily growing you will probably only need to increase their growth rates 12 weeks prior to the show or sale. For very forward animals 8-10 weeks may be adequate. Animals requiring more finish may need to go onto feed 16 weeks prior to the show or sale. To finish your bulls on target use Milne Feeds' EasyBeef®. Every feeding situation and preparation system is different. Call us today and we will be able to discuss your program and which feeds are most suitable.
Which Milne feed products should I use for bulls?
The product you use to grow out your cattle will depend on how much growth and finish your cattle need to achieve in a set time period. When selecting a product you need to consider: 1) How many kilograms of growth you are targeting 2) Age of the cattle 3) Body condition score Young bulls, under 300 kilograms, will need a high protein and energy ration such as Calfgro-S. This product can be used to put extra weight into early weaned calves. Once animals weigh over 300 kilograms they can be switched to another diet such as EasyBeef®. For heavier bulls, that are in good condition and have good weight for age, BullsEye® is the product of choice. BullsEye has all the vitamins and minerals bulls need to ensure healthy development. BullsEye can be used as a total ration, in conjunction with a fibre source, or can be feed as a supplement. EasyBeef is a higher energy ration and can be used for bulls that need to be grown out more quickly. It is a balanced ration complete with rumen buffers and included fibre to ensure a healthy rumen. Contact Dean Maughan now to find out which feed will suit your production system best.
How can I maintain my pregnant and lactating cows and heifers?

EasyBeef® & EasyWay® Pellets

EasyBeef® is the perfect solution for maintaining your breeding herd. Cost effective and nutritionally balanced, it is well suited to in bin feeders, lick feeders or for trail feeding. Using a lick feeder means the feeder can be set to supply a certain amount of feed to each animal per day, thereby creating a perfect dietary supplementation tool.

Click here for more information on EasyBeef®

EasyWay® Hay Replacer is an easy to use maintenance feed that provides the nutritional benefits of cereal hay. EasyWay is a palatable, cost effective 9mm pellet, designed to be fed in place of cereal hay to cattle. It is a high fibre ration, which will maintain cull and dry cows.

Click here for more information on EasyWay®
What should I feed calves?

CalfGro, CalfGro-S & EasyBeef®

CalfGro is a nutritionally balanced high energy and protein pellet, designed to be fed to calves from 1 week of age until 12 weeks of age. Although calves obviously still need milk for the first 6-8 weeks, early introduction of pellets to their diets may be useful in aiding rumen development and fostering acceptance of a new feed source.

Click here for more information on Calfgro

Older calves, between 3-12 months, should be fed CalfGro-S. It is a high protein ration, at 18%, ensuring calves get enough protein to maximise growth. CalfGro-S should be fed in conjunction with good quality hay or pasture.

Click here for more information on Calfgro-S

Animals older than 12 months should be fed EasyBeef®. EasyBeef is a high performance complete feed designed to put condition on weaner calves, and minimise the risk of acidosis. The technology used to produce EasyBeef makes the stored nutrients more readily available to cattle and modifies rumen acidity, ensuring calves gain body condition without the problems associated with traditional grain based rations. EasyBeef is a convenient cattle feeding system designed to overcome many of the feeding management issues facing cattle producers trying to prepare calves for sale or entry into the breeding herd.

Click here for more information on EasyBeef®
How much EasyBeef® should I feed to my weaner bulls and heifers?
Weaners can be fed EasyBeef® as a total ration or it can be used to supplement paddock feed. The amount fed will depend on whether it is their sole feed. Young cattle in a finishing period will eat between 2.3 and 3% of their bodyweight daily, as feed. If you are finishing cattle of 350 kg liveweight they will eat between 9 and 10 kilos of EasyBeef daily. As feedlot animals start to finish or get close to their mature weight daily consumption as a percentage of bodyweight typically reduces. Heavy heifers and steers are likely to drop back to close to 2.3% of bodyweight. Weekly intake for feedlot cattle may also vary considerably depending on environmental conditions, such as excessive heat, which reduces daily intake, or extreme cold, which increases intake.
How should I prepare my cattle for sale on the live export market?

Cattle Cubes & EasyWay® Hay Replacer

Cattle Cubes are a fibre and grain based cube designed to be fed to live export cattle during transportation or whilst in holding yards. It is a safe, high fibre, mid protein ration that can be fed to cattle without supplying additional roughage.

Please call us for more information on cattle cubes.

EasyWay® Hay Replacer is an easy to use maintenance feed that provides the nutritional benefits of cereal hay. EasyWay is a palatable, cost effective 9mm pellet, designed to be fed in place of cereal hay to cattle. It is a high fibre ration, with adequate energy and protein to maintain mature bulls and steers and dry empty cows.

Click here for more information on EasyWay®
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