Comparing Cost and Nutritional Value of Livestock Feed? There is an App for That.

Comparing Cost and Nutritional Value of Livestock Feed? There is an App for That.

Trying to determine feed choices for your livestock? Producers are always having to consider both the nutritional value as well as the cost of different feed options. After the break we learn more about about an exciting new phone app that will help livestock producers make feedstuff choices, I’m KayDee Gilkey with Open Range after this.?

Emery Tschetter, South Dakota State University Extension Director of Communications and Marketing shares more about SDSU Extensions iGrow program’s free mobile app.

Tschetter: “This app grow out of the drought. It is called the Feed Calculator and it allows you to calculate apples to apples and compare the different kind of feeds you may be looking for. For example, here in South Dakota we compare corn and perhaps a dried distillers grain or alfalfa. And those are becoming in short enough supply across the country you really have to look at the economics and the nutritional value.”

In order to utilize this phone app, producers will need basic input information for each feed source such as percent dry matter, crude protein and energy content on a dry matter basis, feed cost per pound or ton, and trucking cost. In return, livestock producers will be able to compare feedstuff A to feedstuff B on a dry matter basis and be able to determine which feedstuff is a better buy, if they are looking for a protein or energy source.

I’m KayDee Gilkey with Open Range on the Northwest Ag Information Network.