Precision Supplementation Technology on Improving Beef Cattle Performance

By Taylor Husz

I’ve been working on my master’s degree with Dr. Ryan Reuter and his lab group since January 2018. My research is new precision supplementation technology that addresses the nutrition of individual animals.

This technology can help producers manage their herds more efficiently based on the needs of their individual animals. We hope this technology will result in cattle that are generally healthier, more productive, and more profitable. Precision supplement feeders can be used in all sectors of the beef industry, including cowcalf operations and stocker or backgrounding units. However, just as with all new technology, the feeders can be expensive.

Therefore, I wanted to look at how many steers could use this equipment at a time, without changing the animal’s behavior. Increasing the number of animals using this technology would make it more cost effective.

Mixed breed beef steers (n = 128, initial BW = 257 ± 29.2 kg) were randomly assigned to eight paddocks. One paddock (16 steers) was selected to have continuous access to the feeder for the duration of the 16-week trial and was designated the “tester” paddock. The automated feeder consisted of a large bin that dispensed supplement into four feeding stations. Supplement dispense was triggered by the presence of an eligible animal’s RFID tag. Each steer was limited to 0.50 kg supplement per day by the electronics of the feeder.

Automated feeder

Photo by Taylor Husz

Weekly, additional paddocks were commingled with the tester paddock to increase competition for the feeder. This resulted in a stocking density from four to 32 steers per feeding station in various weeks. A crossover design method was used to develop the sequence of stocking densities, to balance potential residual or carryover effects.

Approximately 30% of the steers did not voluntarily use the feeder; therefore, actual competition was less than targeted in the study design. Supplement intake and GPS location were recorded for steers in the tester paddock and averaged for each week. Week was the experimental unit (n = 16). Weekly mean supplement intake and time spent near the feeder were regressed on feeder stocking density. Tester steers consumed an average of 0.36 kg of supplement per day. Competition for a feeder space numerically reduced (P = 0.15) supplement intake by 0.002 kg/d per steer of competition. Steers spent 6% of the time within 25 m of the feeder regardless of competition (P = 0.82).

This data illustrates that in scenarios similar to these experimental conditions, the feeder can be stocked with at least 32 animals per feeding station with minimal effects on supplement intake. Many other research questions have come about as a result of initial study.

This summer I will continue my research in an attempt to answer those other questions regarding precision supplementation technology. I am expected to complete all of my master’s program requirements in December 2019.

My future plans are to work in research and development. My overall career goal is to work on making the beef industry more efficient and profitable, whether it is through new management practices, technology, or products.