The price of hay was at record levels in most areas of the Northwest this past year.  Feeder quality alfalfa from the basin or southern Idaho was bringing over $200 per ton.  Low to average quality grass hay in north central Idaho cost as much as $150 per ton in some cases.  Most recent reports indicate that the price of hay has dropped with expectations of further reductions in prices as we move into the late winter and early spring.

No matter how you look at it, hay prices are high and as cow-calf producers, we need to do a good job of balancing the ration for the cows during the winter feeding period to keep feed costs as low as possible.  Lower quality forages can be used in the ration to lower feed costs.  However, the lower quality feeds are low in protein and energy and if fed by themselves, will not meet the nutrient requirements of the cows.  Therefore, it will probably be necessary to provide some protein supplementation.  What is the best protein supplement to use?  Depends on a number of factors; let’s look at these factors:

1. Available protein sources.

There are some feeds that are very good sources of protein but are not available at a reasonable price to producers in north central Idaho.   Soybean meal is a great feed high in protein but must be shipped in from the Midwest which adds to the cost.  Cottonseed meal is another excellent protein feed that is not readily available to area producers.  In some cases, finding good quality alfalfa is also limited in the region.
 

2. Price of the protein. 

With feed costs so high, we need to supplement with a protein feed that provides the necessary nutrients for the cattle at the least cost.  Therefore, we need to price the protein on a cost per unit basis.  Let’s see how this works.  For our example let’s say we can buy 18% protein alfalfa hay for $175 per ton or 36% protein canola meal for $375 per ton.  Our cost per unit of protein would be:

Alfalfa = 2000 x .18 = 360 pounds of actual protein in a ton
     Cost of protein = $175 per ton / 360 = $0.486 cents per pound of protein. 

 Canola Meal = 2000 x .36 = 720 pounds of actual protein in a ton
     Cost of protein = $375 per ton / 720 = $0.521 cents per pound of protein.

The cost per unit of protein favors the alfalfa hay, $0.486 compared to $0.521.  If the cost per ton of the alfalfa increased or the protein level decreased, then the canola meal may be the better value.  Of course if the price of the canola meal dropped it may also be the better buy. 

This is how a person determines the cost per pound of protein in a particular feed.  A lot of producers are feeding the protein tubs.  Figure the cost per pound of protein the same way as we figured it with the alfalfa.  Determine the protein percentage in the tub, multiply it by 2000 then divide the price of the tubs on a per ton basis by the actual pounds of protein in a ton.  This will give you the price per pound of protein that you are buying.

3. Ease of Feeding. 

This is a huge factor.  You have to ask yourself what kind of facilities you have for feeding.  If you have bunks that will allow you to feed fine supplements like canola meal, soybean meal and so on, you will have more options.  If you don’t have bunks or self feeders, you are limited to protein tubs or blocks, range cubes or high protein hay. 

Another thing to consider is labor.  How much time do you have to feed cows?  If you don’t mind feeding protein supplements on a daily, every other day or every third day, you have more options.  If it is impossible to hand feed this often, you may have to use just protein blocks or tubs. 

Convenience of feeding and availability of labor are huge considerations when determining the type of protein supplements to use.

Good luck with your winter feeding programs this winter.  Let’s hope for an open winter with the snowpack high in the mountains.