Feeding Options

[cakadu]

Charlie, in one of these threads - I don't remember where, you mentioned feeding soymeal as an option this year. Raising sheep, we've never really had to think about these feed alternatives, but this year we will and I'm sure that there are many others that are looking at feeding options too.

Where can one find information on these sorts of things? What kind of feeding options are others out there using, that have worked?

I realize in a lot of cases that these alternatives need roughage, which is another story, but I would like to at least find out about them. (It's raining here again this morning - west central AB - so maybe we'll see a little more in the way of roughage.

Thanks for your help.

Linda

[charliep]

Ropin the web has some good stuff.

http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/navigation/sustain/agdisaster/index.htm

Market analysis has been asked to provide more information on prices and supplier contacts.

There has also been active discussion in the othe areas of Agri-ville.

Final ideas are seeking advice from Alberta Agriculture and others for someones specific situation.

The thing is to get people thinking outside the box/differently. Anything goes this year as long as it makes sense to achieving the farm families goals (e.g. retain as much of herd as possible) and can be pencilled in using from both the financial and feed availability side.

The other issue is the importance of understanding customers and needs (even in a drought year) and the importance of a longer term relationship. An example this year is the need for livestock industry to get longer term commitment on feed supplies.

Disagreement on price is a fact of life (buyers always think they pay too much/sellers sell too cheap). Livestock need feed on a continuous basis (they get hungry). A longer term contract that establishes a basis with futures but allows a livestock feeder and grain producer to make separate pricing decisions is a good tool.
Just thoughts on a Sunday.

[cakadu]

Thanks Charlie - I'll have a look around and see what's available. It seems that we are going to see some real creativity when it comes to feeding this year.

I agree with your thoughts on feed and getting longer term relationships going. Not a new concept, but it could be one well worth exploring given the current situation out there. I've asked about why people couldn't give a little now in order to ensure that the livestock guy is around to buy their feed next year, but I'm afraid it's met with some resistance up to this point.

We need each other and the sooner we accept that and try to work out some sort of arrangement that's acceptable to us all then the better off we'll be. Ianben has brought up getting a "standardized" price if you will and it's beginning to make more sense and somewhere else in these threads someone else has brought up the point that there is no sense in bankrupting those who would be buying your feed next year. After all, if we can't support each other, then how do we expect to make it out in the big world.

To me it seems we've got to give up this notion of independence and work towards interdependence. Believe me, I understand the logic behind getting what one can for feed this year because the last couple of years were bad and who knows what next year will bring. Having said that though, I don't want to see us going for short-term gain at the expense of the long-term sustainability for us all.