A way to increase your earnings
By Chipo Tachiona
Farmers can choose between the breeding-in system and the buying-in system for their beef production methods.
However people who are generating more money are those whose profits come from their capacity to increase carcass weights (Pen fattening).
Although the cattle fattening sector is lucrative, there are a few essential tasks you must complete before opening a feedlot.
The target market, the location, and the number of animals you want to retain each cycle must all be determined. Both the size of your target market and the amount of funding you have will affect these choices.
If you do not have a lot of money, you can always start small and grow your feedlot operation over time. In addition, you must write down your findings and undertake market research (i.e., who are you planning to sell the beef or cattle to?).
Create a detailed business plan (at what cost?) and jot down your strategy before you get started. Make sure your research is thorough.
The CATTLE
Certain cattle are more suitable to being fattened than others. Beef cattle must be fed a protein-balanced, high-energy diet over a period of around 90 days in confinement to enhance live weights, improve degree of finish, and receive better grades at the abattoir.
To create a profitable, long-lasting feedlot enterprise, you need adequate knowledge of efficient pen fattening practices, such as cattle fattening techniques, solid managerial skills, and a good business plan.
One of the two ways to obtain the animals is to either use cattle from your own herd or to purchase them from other farmers. You need to be careful while buying animals to use for fattening cattle pens.
The wrong decision will cost you money before your cattle fattening cycles even start. When buying the animals, you should be able to evaluate the potential for beef fattening of various cattle breeds in connection to the market price of various beef grades.
Age, gender, maturity type, and cattle breed are all significant factors. This is because various breeds of cattle have varying responses to the process of beef fattening.
The LOCATION
For the project to be financially sustainable, choosing the ideal location for your cattle feedlots is essential. The accessibility of the market and feed sources, the current climatic conditions, as well as strong transportation networks, are all key factors to consider when choosing land for your feedlot.
Whether the land is suitable for constructing cattle feedlots, whether water is easily accessible, whether there is a low risk of flooding or veld fire, and whether it is sufficiently removed from residential or industrial areas to prevent noise and dust pollution in those areas are all additional considerations.
The EQUIPMENT
Cattle pens used for fattening require facilities for feeding and drinking. They can appear as mobile self-feeders that can be moved among the pens or as fixed concrete units, which might be more economical in the Zimbabwean situation. Near the perimeter of the cattle pens, fixed and built-in feed bunks and troughs are located.
The feed troughs often run the length of the cow pen for easy access to food. Regardless of the tools you use, make sure the cattle can easily reach feed and water. The feedlot business plan should contain the cost of the required equipment.
The NUTRITION
It is essential that you provide your cattle the right kind and amount of grain to eat. Your ability to get cattle to gain weight and produce high-quality beef depends on your ability to do so. These factors are influenced by the feed’s calibre and volume.
Utilizing the proper feeding techniques will ensure that the cattle flourish, efficiently use the grain, and provide high-quality beef. Incorrect feeding of the cattle can result in feed loss or failure to meet the necessary slaughter weights and meat grades, which can result in losses.
There are companies that market feeds for fattening cattle. These comprehensive, balanced feeds are designed for a feedlot fattening period of up to 90 days. The stock feeds are nutrient-rich, high-energy meals that are perfect for ad libitum fattening of cattle in pens.
Additionally, you can produce your own homemade cattle feed for raising beef. Depending on their live weight and age, the cattle will consume varying amounts of feed each day.
Take note, the profitability of the cattle feedlot operations is also influenced by the cost of the feed, the price margin, the feed margin, the feed conversion efficiency ratio, and the unit cost per KG when selling.
Chipo Tachiona is co-director of Farmyard Investments.
For all your Spray races, cattle pens, troughs, scale cages, cattle crush…
Find us at 18 Rudland Belvedere or 0778714074
Twitter: chipodee2/FarmyardZW