How to Decrease Feed Costs for Farm Animals

As you may know, from previous blog posts, that one of my homesteading goals is to decrease feed costs for farm animals. This goal is important to me because decreasing feed costs is important for the financial stability, sustainability, and our quality of life, as well as for the environment.

Benefits of decreasing farm animal feed costs are:

1.  Financial stability: Feed is often one of the largest expenses for farmers, and reducing feed costs can help to improve the financial stability of our operation.

2. Sustainability: By reducing feed costs, we can make our operation more sustainable in the long term. This can include reducing the amount of purchased feed we need, which can be resource-intensive to produce, and instead utilizing more sustainable sources of feed such as pasture or crop residues.

3. Quality of life: By reducing feed costs, we can potentially improve our quality of life as a farmer. This can include being able to afford a comfortable home, supporting our family, and pursuing our passions. 

4. Environmental impact: Reducing feed costs can also help to minimize the environmental impact of our operation. For example, by reducing the amount of purchased feed we need, we can potentially reduce our carbon footprint and decrease our reliance on resource-intensive feed production.

How to Decrease Feed Costs for Farm Animals

There are several ways we can decrease the feed costs of farm animals:

1. Grow our own feed: One of the most effective ways to reduce feed costs is to grow our own feed. This can include growing hay or other forage crops, as well as growing grains or other feed crops.

2. Supplement with kitchen scraps: Consider supplementing our animals' feed with kitchen scraps, such as vegetable peelings and fruit cores. Just be sure to avoid feeding your animals anything that is toxic or spoiled.

3. Purchase feed in bulk: Buying feed in bulk can often save us money in the long run. Just be sure to store it properly to prevent it from spoiling.

4. Feed animals on pasture: Allowing our animals to graze on pasture can significantly reduce our feed costs, as pasture is a free and abundant source of forage.

5. Use feed additives sparingly: Some feed additives, such as supplements and medicated feed, can be expensive. Consider using these sparingly and only when necessary to reduce our feed costs.

6. Source feed locally: Consider sourcing feed locally, as transportation costs can significantly increase the price of feed.

7. Negotiate prices: If we are purchasing feed from a commercial supplier, consider negotiating the price to get a better deal.

8. Utilize feed mixers: If we are growing our own feed, consider investing in a feed mixer to make our own feed rations. This can allow us to customize our feed to meet the specific needs of our animals and potentially save money.

9. Minimize feed waste: Be sure to store feed properly to prevent waste, and consider implementing feeders or other systems to minimize the amount of feed that is spilled or wasted.

10. Utilize waste products: Some waste products, such as brewer's grains or distillers' grains, can be used as feed for livestock. These can often be sourced at a lower cost than traditional feed.

By following these strategies, we can effectively reduce the feed costs of our farm animals, helping to make our operation more sustainable and cost-effective. May we all decrease the feed costs of feeding our farm animals!