When it comes to the agricultural industry one of the most important decisions farm managers have to make is the machines they purchase for their farm. There is no denying that machinery plays a monumental role in this industry. One machine that is becoming increasingly popular is the diet feeder. As all farmers know, it is imperative to ensure feed is mixed correctly, and this is a machine that aids with this. If the feed is not mixed effectively you cannot be sure that every animal is getting the right amount of nutrients. As a consequence, the quality of your beef and yield will suffer as a result, and this will obviously have a negative impact on your business. So, with that being said, read on to find out everything you need to know about diet feeders…
First and foremost, it is pivotal to assess the importance of quality, especially in the agricultural industry. From restaurants to supermarkets, these businesses only want the best of the best. After all, your standards are going to affect their reputation and the products they provide to their customers. Thus, you need to ensure you put as much emphasis on quality control as possible. Individuals are more careful with their meat selection than ever before. There is more and more emphasis being placed on the quality of meat and indeed other foods. This is especially the case when you consider the horsemeat scandal that occurred several years ago. Of course, this was not down to poor mixture of feed. Nonetheless, it has made consumers a lot more conscious regarding the food they buy. This showcases the importance of providing your animals with the perfect mixture of nutrients to guarantee you can provide top quality beef and milk.
When it comes to getting your feed right and ensuring the nutrients are balanced correctly you need to get the ration’s physical composition correct. This is exactly what diet feeders help with. They will make sure the feed is mixed consistently and that it is then distributed evenly across the stock. Without this machine, it is almost certain that some animals would be getting more nutrients than others, and thus there would be an imbalance when it comes to the standard of meat and yield you provide. Therefore, it is quite clear to see why purchasing a diet feeder comes highly recommended and how it can improve your business substantially. You should not only consider the mix of the feed, but a diet feeder is beneficial because it helps with efficiency. You will have assistance when it comes to transporting, distributing and storing the feed. This essentially makes your life a lot easier and allows you to run your farm a lot more effectively.
If you take a look on the Internet you will notice that you have a lot of diet feeders to choose from. There are several factors you can bear in mind in order to narrow down your search effectively. Of course, cost is imperative. When you consider the cost, you need to look at the overall price – not just the price of purchase. You need to consider how much the machine is going to cost to run. You should also look into capital allowances too. You can read an introduction to capital allowances to get a better understanding if this is something you’re not sure about.
You should also make sure you buy from a good brand and that you purchase a diet feeder that is the right size for your farm. Aside from this, search for a diet feeder that offers a good mix of particle size, as well as a light open mix. It should also guarantee a feed that has a physical structure that is ideal for the rumen. On a final note, it is always a good idea to buy from a company that offers spare parts and servicing as well. Thus, if something goes wrong with your machine you can get it fixed quickly and easily, and therefore your business does not suffer.
We hope that this guide has helped to give you a better understanding of diet feeders and making the right decisions for your farm.
