Profit Tips: What’s your feed shrink?

How much harvested forage or purchased grains and commodities are wasted on your operation? As of mid-January, a 1,000-bushel semi-trailer of corn grain was worth about $6,000. Reducing shrink on that semi-trailer load of corn from 10 percent to 5 percent is worth at least $300.

Bob James, extension dairy scientist at Virginia Tech, recommends that you inspect the following areas and correct problems that can increase shrink:

• Dry feed storage areas.
• Feed storage structures for insect and animal damage.
• Spillage during loading of mixer wagons.
• Overloading the mixer wagon.

FOR MORE I NFORMATION: Type the headline of this Profit Tip into the “Search” box at dairyherd.com

1. Wet U.S. Midwest sections may lead to fewer corn acres
2. Where’s the rain? Parched states can’t shake the drought
3. Ouch — I stuck myself!
4. World Dairy Expo announces dairy cattle show manager
5. Program planned for first U.S. Precision Dairy Conference, Expo
6. Alltech Symposium challenges agribusiness to make an impact

1. 4 rules for growing a business or industry
2. Commentary: Milk faces branding dilemma
3. Chocolate milk a top post-workout food
4. Seven jobs more dangerous than farming
5. What do dairy exports mean for Minnesota?
6. Salma Hayek: Milk part of 'perfect' breakfast

1. Seven jobs more dangerous than farming
2. 2014 Farm Bill: Are we near an agreement?
3. Farm bill and immigration reform action needed
4. Class III futures close out quietly last week
5. 4 rules for growing a business or industry
6. White House urges Senate to cut crop insurance in farm bill