FAQs

• Cow/Calf Supplementation
• Feedlot Products
• Urea
• Equipment
• Product Delivery
• Troubleshooting / prevention

Cow/Calf Supplementation

Q: How does feeding supplement increase the utilization of my forage?
A: The first limiting nutrient in most forage diets is protein, in particular ruminally degradable protein (DIP). Once this essential nutrient is supplied to the microbes, via protein supplementation, they are able to grow, multiply, and break down fiber at an increased rate. As their population and activity level grow, they are able to process additional forage, leading to increased intake (often 30-40% with low quality forage, and approximately 10% with moderate quality hays). Additionally, the forage (fiber) they do breakdown is fermented more thoroughly, allowing greater "digestion" and energy yield from each unit of forage consumed.

Q: Do cows need supplemental by-pass protein?
A: One of the primary goals of cowherd supplementation is to increase utilization of low-cost forages. The boost in intake seen with protein supplementation is due to an increased nitrogen supply to the rumen, making degradable crude protein (DIP) sources more effective than undegraded ("by-pass" or UIP)) protein. This strategy allows the cows to meet their needs from forage and DIP supplementation, and supplies the animals with a very high-quality protein source in the form of bacterial cell proteins.

Q: Should fat be fed to cows?
A: While high levels of dietary fat can cause problems with palatability, fiber digestion, and scouring, moderate levels (up to 5% of dietary dry matter intake) may offer some specific benefits to beef cows at the critical points in their production cycle.

Q: Why would I use organic trace minerals for beef cows?
A: The organic forms (e.g., proteinates and chelates) of the essential trace minerals are more available to the animal, and when mineral supply is critical (i.e., late gestation and early lactation of high-producing animals, especially if they are under stress) this improved bioavailability may be worth the extra cost.

Q: Will feeding QLF supplements have a "negative associative" effect on fiber digestion?
A: "Negative associative effects" most commonly seen with beef cows involve the feeding of moderate levels of grain. The net result of adding this much starch to a high-forage diet is a shift in microbial population, reduced fiber intake, and impaired fiber digestion. But the soluble energy source in our products is sugar, which has been shown to complement fiber digestion – IF adequate degradable protein is provided – rather than act against it.

Q: How much will they eat?
A: Actual consumption rates will vary depending on forage type, quality, and availability; weather and facility conditions; and, cow condition and management. However, once animals are acclimated to the lick tank, consumption should be reasonably predictable and consistent for a given time of year and stage of production. Example:

Feedlot Products

Q: What options do I have with ionophores in liquid supplement?
A: QLF feedlot products come with several standard drug levels. We encourage you to use these. However, if you have put rations together and find you need a different inclusion rate, we can make necessary changes. Keep in mind that when you change drug level the feed becomes a custom mix, and is priced accordingly.

Q: Can QLF Feedlot products be fed free choice?
A: NO. Absolutely not. Nutribeef 50 must be mixed in or top dressed on high grain rations for cattle weighing 600 pounds or more.

Q: Will QLF Feedlot products pump in cold weather?
A: Yes, this is one thing that is unique about QLF products vs. the competition. We use products in Minnesota and North Dakota with minus 30 degrees or more with no pumping problems. However, do use reasonable precautions with set-up design.

Q: Will QLF Starter products pump in cold weather?
A: Yes, but keep in mind the problem usually occurs in the line to the pump and/or in the pump. The cold air will penetrate the small areas such as the line much more quickly than the large volume of product in the storage tank.

Q: Can QLF products be mixed in a tank with other products?
A: No. Storage tanks that have been used for competitor's product should be cleaned before putting in ours. If there is a buildup of sludge in the tank from years past, and we put a good quality feed on top of it, problems could come from feeding the sludge.

Q: What is the shelf life of QLF feedlot products?
A: We recommend turning inventory every 60 days or less. This is more important during the summer, since the heat inside storage tanks can cause added stress on the gums that suspend the ingredients.

Q: What is the recommended procedure for adding our feedlot products to a TMR?
A: Load the corn first, then the liquid, and finally the roughage. This allows the liquid to be pre-mixed with the corn, which will in turn more easily mix with the roughage.

Q: Will all the solid ingredients in a product like Beef Starter stay in suspension?
A: Yes. We do recommend turning inventory in a 60 day period.

Urea

Q: How do cattle utilize non-protein nitrogen (NPN) like protein?
A: In the rumen, urea and other NPN sources are broken down into ammonia. The microbes can, and in many species prefer to, use ammonia as their source of N. As they take in nutrients, grow, and reproduce, the N is incorporated into their cell structures as microbial cell protein. The net benefit to the animal comes when millions of these bacterial cells flow with the digesta to the small intestine, where the high-quality microbial protein is digested, and its amino acids and peptides absorbed.

Q: Why do so many people say you can't use urea in high-forage diets?
A: Ammonia is released from urea almost as soon as it reaches the rumen. The ability of the microbial population to incorporate this ammonia is limited by microbe numbers and growth rate. And if rumen ammonia concentration becomes too high, the ammonia travels through the bloodstream to the liver. Here it is converted back to urea, which may recycle back to the rumen, or be lost in the urine (=wasted). Forages, especially those of lower quality, are broken down slowly in the rumen. This means the nutrients, in particular energy, they provide to the "bugs" may not be available at an adequate level or in a timely fashion (relative to the ammonia) to sustain enough microbial growth to utilize urea efficiently.

Q: Does this apply to the urea in our pasture products?
A: No. Efficient utilization of urea occurs when there is enough microbial growth to utilize all the available ammonia. This can be enhanced two ways – by providing all other microbial nutrients in adequate amounts (especially energy), so a shortage of something other than N doesn't slow growth; and, slowing release of the ammonia from the urea in the first place. QLF liquid supplements do this several ways:

• Base ingredients (primarily molasses) supply the readily available sugar energy and other nutrients the microbes need.
  


• "Timed release" ™ urea, bound to phosphoric acid, is broken down to ammonia over a longer period of time than straight urea.
  


• As fermentation (digestion) is enhanced, rumen pH is optimized, encouraging efficient fiber digestion while keeping free ammonia in a form that will remain in the rumen.
  


• Cows receive daily lick tank supplementation from several periodic "meals," or trips to the tank, avoiding large "doses"
  


• Molasses overcomes potential urea palatability problems, so the animals will consume as much as you want them to.

Q: What is urea toxicity?
A: Actually, it is ammonia toxicity, sometimes brought about by feeding urea under the wrong conditions. As discussed above, unused ruminal ammonia can find its way into the bloodstream. If these levels reach too high of levels, toxic efffects (possibly including death) will occur. For this to happen, animals must take in a large amount of urea, in a relatively short time, relative to a minimal supply of other ruminally available nutrients. Thus the importance of not starting starving cattle on lick tanks, and of judicious lick tank placement. The features that ensure improved urea utilization from QLF feeds also increase the safety level against urea toxicity.

Q: How do we come up with the crude protein level for urea?
A: Because crude protein is based on the assumption that protein averages 16% nitrogen, urea is the equivalent of 281% CP (.45 ÷ .16). Some other handy calculations:

Q: How do I know how much urea is in a feed?
A: Percent NPN times .36 (can get same answer if divide by 2.84)
Example: if feed tag says 14% NPN, it contains 14% X .36 = 5% urea

Q:How do you calculate the level of NPN in a urea-containing feed?
A: Percent urea divided by .36 (or multiply by 2.84)
Example: if a feed is 4.3% urea, it contains 4.3% ÷ .36 = 12% NPN

Q: How much urea will a cow get from silage when treated with Silage 100?
A: 99.5% NPN X .36 = 35 % urea in Silage 100
apply 40 lbs. Silage 100 per ton of silage: 40 X 35% = 14 lbs urea/2040 lb silage
14 ÷ 2040 = .0069, or .69% urea in the treated silage
if cow eats 40 lbs, she eats (40 X .0069=.27) lbs, or (.27 X 454 = 125) g, of urea

Q: How much urea will a cow get from a QLF-treated bale?
A: Super 40 is 35% protein equivalent from NPN, or (35 X .36 = 12 ½ %) urea
apply 100 lbs. Super40 to a 1000 lb bale: 100 X .125 = 12.5 lb urea/ 1100 lb bale
12.5 ÷ 1100 = 1.14 % urea
if cow eats 20 lbs, she eats (20 X .0114=.23) lbs, or (.23 X 454=104) g, of urea

Equipment

Q: Why does QLF recommend filling tanks through the bottom bung?
A:Delivery pumps have high volume pumps and filling through the bottom will thoroughly mix any old feed with the new, and will prevent the build-up of stale feed. Filling from the bottom of the tank is also safer and there is less chance of spillage.

Q: Can QLF feedlot products be used on a belt feeding system?
A:Yes, but it is more difficult to calibrate the flow.

Q: How often should storage tanks be cleaned?
A: At least once a year. With any molasses product there will be some ash build-up.

Q:Do we need to use cone-bottom tanks for suspension products?
A: No. Some companies are recommending cone-bottom tanks for similar products, but the only advantage would be to simplify tank cleaning after ingredients settle out. Since ingredients have been shown to stay in suspension in our feedlot products, this is not an issue.

Q:How do I determine what size equipment I need?
A: QLF usually recommends about a 30-day supply plus a ton or more to allow room to take delivery without the tank being completely empty.

Q: What type of tank do I need to use for liquid feeds?
A: Almost any tank will work if it is clean, and doesn't leak. QLF prefers poly tanks for economic reasons. Steel tanks also work, but are more expensive, and will eventually corrode when used with liquid feed products.

Q:What size of pump do I need?
A: For a delivery unit, 2" or larger; for a large producer, with 400 head or more, a 1 ½ or 2 inch pump; for a smaller producer, either a 1" or 1 ½" pump.

Q:Can I get all my equipment from QLF?
A: Yes. We have a selection of tanks, pumps, pump bases, pulleys, meters, and parts.

Q:If I feed a product that needs to be recirculated can that be done?
A: Yes. Recirculation is an easy option that can be added to any liquid equipment setup.

Q: How many tons do I have to take for a farm drop?
A: 6 ton minimum

Q: What is the minimum for a custom mix? Why have a minimum?
A: Custom mixes must be a minimum of 6 tons. This is due simply to mixer size and design; smaller batches would not mix properly

Q: How long does it take to receive an order?
A: If feed is ordered by 12 noon, standard products can usually be delivered the next business day. Custom mixes ordered by noon are guaranteed delivery in 48 hours. Saturday deliveries are for emergencies only. QLF always appreciates as much notice as possible.

Q: How close does a storage facility have to be to truck access?
A: All trucks carry 60 feet of hose, but the closer the better

Troubleshooting / prevention

Q: What precautions can we take to aid product flow in cold weather?
A: 1. Place the pump as close to the storage tank as possible. Build a small enclosure around the pump and up against the tank. Place a light bulb inside the enclosure for heat.

2. Use a heat tape on the line from the storage tank, and to and around the pump. When using a heat tape, be careful NOT to over-tape the line. QLF suggests a single strand under the feed pipe, wrapped with insulation. If you wrap the line, the feed may become hot enough to crystallize the molasses.

3. Put a 2-way switch on the pump, so that once liquid is loaded, any feed left in the line may be pumped back into the tank.

4. Place the storage tank on the south side of a building, out of the wind.