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Consultant fees?

loomixguy said:
flyingS said:
Loomix, my point is at some point an operation has to check their cows. If I were to charge myself for everytime I multi-task, I would just stay in the house. I am not saying you don't have a good product. Just making the point that you have to think a sales pitch through, I don't buy fuel and time savings unless you think you have to cake everyday. If a person thinks you have to cake everyday, my guess is it would be pretty tough to visit with them about making any kind of change in their operation.
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What I posted was not a sales pitch. I agree, the cows need checked, but I know for a fact that there are a LOT of cows in the country who are checked way less than they ought to be, or the owners claim they are. What I am is another set of eyes, and probably noticing things that might not need to be noticed, but I have no problem letting the owners know what I saw, even if it's more of a CYA thing.

I don't feed cows, I feed the bugs in the rumens of cows. Added value is my stock in trade.
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Awesome post...the bugs in the rumen...YES!!!!

Flying S, I still fail to understand how feeding protein supplement every 7 days enhances the rumen bug population......but that is a discussion for another day as I have to go for now, and I read some of your posts fairly fast. I will re-read them and get back with you. Have a great day!
 
Loomix you are taking offense to a general statement not a personal attack. It sounds like you try to provide the best quality of service you possibly can. You have obviously but some thought into your product and run numbers yourself instead of listening to a reps speech and repeating it to your customers. Keep up the good work
 
Faster horses said:
Flying S, I still fail to understand how feeding protein supplement every 7 days enhances the rumen bug population......but that is a discussion for another day as I have to go for now, and I read some of your posts fairly fast. I will re-read them and get back with you. Have a great day!
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I agree seeing as how rumen bacteria, microbes and enzymes often have a lifetime of only minutes. Many starve to death whereas other slug feed on that 7th day. Not the best way to feed cattle but will keep them alive. To keep it simple I'd so don't concentrate so much on crude protein as you do on TDN and calories in the feed (energy). Cake can be fed but most feed companies change formulations almost daily so nutrient densities will also change from purchase to purchase.

As for a consultant. Money well spent if the operation can afford the added expense but make sure they have zero ties to any feed company, additive manufacturer or anyone else. Most are always pushing some small additive etc. and will want you to use it regardless. Then..once you've retained them listen to them and do what they recommend. If you don't see results fire them. :wink:
 
I prefer using a nutritionist that has "connections" with several feed companies rather than one or none.
 
Texas, I am not scientist nor am I a nutritionist, I am just speaking from experience. I can not tell you why it worked, it could be that it doesn't and the cows would have done just as well without any protein. As cheap as it was I was not willing to find out. If you have a feed company that is changing ingredient everyday I would have a hard time doing business with any of them. In this country if they didn't build a consistent product it wouldn't take long for them to be out of business.
We did not use a nutritionist to formulate a nutrition paradigm, but do have a simple program that will give you the basics (protein, TDN, Dry Matter Intake). The gentleman that we bought feed from worked for ADM, he was as good as they come. He would give suggestions for a product and ask what we wanted not tell us what to feed. Once in awhile he would ask us to trial a new line for him, it generally worked very well. We also did not have any cattle strictly on feed. A nutritionist would definitely be a good investment if you do not know how to balance a ration yourself. Feed is getting was to expensive to guess and by golly just because it seems to be working. Even if it is working you should ask yourself how much you are wasting and what is it costing you?
 
flyingS said:
Here is some research on frequency of feeding protein supplement.
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/eoarc/sites/default/files/abouthome/scientists/documents/DWB32.pdf
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I don't buy it. I didn't read the paper word for word, but I didn't see any mention of weather, either temperature or snow cover.
 
Loomix, you have to use some common sense. There is no way you can afford to feed cattle the same way during poor weather as you do in fair weather. Nutrition requirements are obviously different, even with your lick cattle will consume more or more hay will have to be fed during poor weather. Once weather clears you surely don't continue to feed extra hay or expect cattle to keep consuming the same amount of lick.
 
Wow, Looks like I stirred things up a bit! Dad used to tell me "your not getting anything done unless your makin a bit of a mess!!". Just want to say thanks for ALL your input. Its all from the hip and probably the most valuable market research I've been able to gather in these last few weeks.
Hope all your calves are lookin fat & sassy! TTYL.....................
 

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