It takes a lot of hard work, thought and analysis to maximize ADG and feed efficiency. Producers fight hard to gain small improvements--often less than a single percentage point because the return is worth it.
Common sense tells us mixing is important--optimum performance requires that no animal be shortchanged of any nutrient. Gross mixing errors are usually obvious, but today's finely balanced rations deserve a finely tuned mixing program as well. Unfortunately, independent work tells us most producers do not have a good idea of how well their feed gets mixed.
For instance, in a survey of producers, only 20 percent reported they performed analysis on finished feed (Herrman and McClure, 1995). Another study in Kansas shows a wide range of variability in producers mixing results (Stark et al., 1991). In this study 42 percent of producers achieved a coefficient of variation (CV) of 10 or less which is the desired value.
Tuning a mixing program is not particularly complicated. It starts with developing and implementing a routine sampling program.
And, then if the CV is out of range, identify and correct the problem.
