Feed procurement & co-ops

Seasonal buying

Feed and raw materials are cheapest at harvest (July–September): wheat bran, pulp, meal 15–25% below winter prices. Forward contracts at sowing lock prices even lower.

Cooperation

A service co-op pools demand of 5–20 farms: wholesale feed prices, shared logistics, shared lab checks. For 50–300 heads cooperation cuts feed cost 10–18%.

Quality control

Every lot goes to a lab: protein, moisture, mycotoxins (aflatoxin, DON, zearalenone), mould. Cheap contaminated feed kills the savings: milk −15%+ plus vet bills.

Suppliers

At least 2–3 channels: feed mill, elevator, local traders. Single-supplier dependence = price risk and downtime on a failed delivery.

Stock & storage

Standard stock 45–60 days of feed. Storage moisture: grain ≤14%, bran ≤13%; ventilation and temperature control or self-heating and mould follow.

Pricing

Feed price ≈ ingredient cost × recipe + processing/logistics/mill margin (8–15%). Compare price per unit of digestible protein, not per kg — cheap feed is often less nutritious.