Cattle producers have a plethora of choices when it comes to buying feeds for their show and sale cattle or even finding the right creep feed for growing their calves. Many like to utilize their home-raised or locally-sourced commodities and work with a hometown company to produce these feeds. That is why BioZyme® Inc., makers of Sure Champ®, developed Sure Champ Ration Builder to make sure those locally produced feeds would have all necessary nutrients to make that customized feeds highly fortified.
Ration Builder is a 32-percent protein pelleted base mix, fully fortified with vitamins, minerals and the Amaferm® advantage. Amaferm®️ is a prebiotic designed to enhance digestibility by amplifying the nutrient supply for maximum performance. It is research-proven to increase intake, digestion and absorption. Ration Builder is intended to use to build complete feeds for creep, growing and finishing rations by adjusting inclusion rates
Since everybody’s commodities like corn, oats, barley, cottonseed hulls, beet pulp, are created equal, the primary difference in creating a high-quality feed are the ingredients like vitamins and minerals, quality protein, and any type of digestive aids like prebiotics and probiotics that are highly concentrated and typically mixed and pelleted.
“That is where Ration Builder comes into play because it is formulated to address those areas like high-quality vitamins and minerals packages that are pelleted that not everyone can have at their fingertips,” said Blaine Rodgers, Show Livestock Business Development & Field Support. “Ration Builder also offers quality protein and Amaferm using one pack that is already mixed and pelleted. A feed mill that might not have a pellet mill or be able to handle these lower inclusion rates will be able to add Ration Builder to base commodities and feel very comfortable about having a fully-fortified, high quality feed ration when they are done.”
The inclusion rate will fluctuate depending on the protein level a producer or feeder is trying to achieve. A commonly recommended inclusion rate is 250-450 pounds per ton, depending on the chosen protein level.
Ration Builder allows for various types of diets to be developed, including creep feed, growing and finishing. At each level, the Amaferm advantage will play a role in increasing intake, digestion and absorption to ensure your cattle are getting the most use of the nutrients available to them.
Rodgers said just as the growth stage of the cattle might help determine the amounts of protein and energy an ideal feed ration needs, so does the genetic make-up of the cattle. He said younger cattle on creep feed would need a higher-protein feed to help the caves keep up with the growth rate of their skeletal and muscular system. Similarly, English-based cattle that are typically easier fleshing would also need a higher-protein, lower energy feed. Continental-bred cattle probably would require higher energy in their diet.
Those interested in using Ration Builder to develop a high-quality, fortified feed at their local feed mill or co-op, should contact a BioZyme Area Sales Manager or a BioZyme dealer in their area. They can help you develop a ration that will fit your individual operation. Or they can put you in touch with one of the highly-qualified nutrition team members at BioZyme to help develop a feed mix for you.
