Introduction

Louisiana cattle producers rely on stored feed to meet their herd’s nutritional needs when forage growth is not sufficient. The feedstuffs utilized by producers are quite diverse, ranging from 50-pound bags of commercial feed to single feedstuffs stored in commodity barns and utilized in total mixed rations (TMR). This diversity naturally leads to a wide variation in storage systems necessary for each feed or commodity. Importantly, producers need to remember the storage system and required equipment must fit the goals of the individual operation.

Summary

The feed storage and equipment requirements of Louisiana cattle producers vary greatly depending on the scale of the operation. Requirements could be as basic as a metal trash can to keep a bag of feed out of the elements to as extravagant as a full commodity barn with hay bale processors, mixers and feed trucks. Regardless of the scale, the basics are the same. Feed needs to be easily accessible and kept clean, dry and free from vermin. Also, a sensible system of delivering the feed from the storage facility to the herd needs to be established to increase the producer’s speed, efficiency and overall productivity. For questions about effective feed storage or to discuss feeding protocols and equipment, please reach out to your local LSU AgCenter Extension office.