Nutritional supplement manufacturer UFAC-UK has advised that feed conversion efficiency (FCE) will be key to a sustainable UK beef industry, while also enhancing fertility and health.
David Bonsall explained that balancing fatty acid profiles is an important part of any successful beef feeding system.
“To achieve FCE and enhance fertility and health, diets must contain a balanced fatty acid profile. Individual fatty acids have specific roles, and getting the balance right will improve productivity,” he explained. “There are many and varied beef feeding systems, but they should all have clear aims of generating maximum profit, both by optimising breeding performance and maintaining growth rates to meet market requirements.”
Growing and fattening rations
For finishing animals, the key is energy density which must be increased to maintain growth rates in larger animals. However, using additional starch risks laminitis and lower dry matter intakes due to acidosis.
The answer, according to UFAC-UK, lies in highly digestible, rumen-inert fatty acids, which are up to 2.5 times higher in energy than other carbohydrate ingredients, including cereals.
“UFAC-UK Mega Beef is a unique blend of specially selected rumen-inert fatty acids excluding any palm oil or derivatives. It does, though, include Omega-3s EPA and DHA, along with C18:1 Oleic acid, which increases the digestion of all fatty acids in the ration,” said Mr Bonsall.
UFAC-UK has further developed a Beef Feeding Plan, providing technical support and specially formulated products. It shows how it is possible to increase margins by £49 per head or throughput on the farm by up to 10% without using palm fats as an energy source.
“Breed, frame size and target market will vary but the opportunity to exploit maximum genetic potential through feeding is consistent. Feeding specific fatty acids that support feed conversion, growth rate and lean deposition is the most effective way of achieving a balanced, cost-effective diet that optimises feed efficiency and maximises profit,” he concluded.
More information is available at www.ufacuk.com