Many factors influence this decision, from feed availability to costs and future regulations. Feeds that are grown on the farm are usually the best because recycled nutrients are used, which in the long term reduces the acres needed for manure application. Feeds that are brought in bring nutrients that must be handled in the nutrient management plan. Many times forages such as silages and hays are home grown, and the grains and protein supplements are purchased from off the farm. Each supplement should be examined not only on a cost or nutrition basis but also for the long-term impact on the farm's manure management (for example, cottonseed and soybean meal both have ~45% crude protein, but soybean meal has ~40% less phosphorus).
Author: Charlie Stallings, Virginia Tech University
