September 18, 2020

Beef supplement calculator developed by U of Missouri Extension

Specialists at the University of Missouri Extension (MU Extension) have developed the MU Beef Supplement Comparison Calculator, which allows producers to compare two by-product feed-based supplement options based on various amounts of common grain by-product ingredients, the Daily Star Journal reported.

The calculator is used after a supplement has been formulated to meet animal nutrient requirements based on nutrient analysis of the forages used in a particular feeding regimen.

The calculator is an Excel-based spreadsheet that compares cost and nutrient composition between two different beef cattle supplements.

The spreadsheet calculates the percentage of crude protein, total digestible nutrients, net energy maintenance, net energy gain, calcium, phosphorus and rumen degradable protein in a supplement on an as-fed basis, as well as the cost per tonne of each supplement option.

Users of the spreadsheet simply enter the price of each feed ingredient and the pounds of each ingredient in the "Base Supplement Mix" section of the worksheet.

In the "Optional Supplement Mix" section of the worksheet, producers can enter various amounts of each of the listed ingredient options until they match the nutrient content of the base supplement. A cost comparison of the two supplement options is calculated based on current ingredient prices.

For a copy of the MU Beef Supplement Comparison Calculator, you may contact schmitze@missouri.edu or Dr. Eric Bailey at baileyeric@missouri.edu.