Feedmill
Renovation and Expansion for
Feedlot and Cow/Calf Research
Vern Anderson
NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center
Livestock account for only 18
percent of the agricultural income in North Dakota. The state is
a net exporter of feed, calves, and our farm youth. Past research at the Carrington Center in head to head feeding over multiple years with
commercial feedyards in Kansas has proven that cattle can be competitively finished
in the state. The reasons are abundant
and competitively priced feedstuffs, excellent quality cattle, and people with
cattle management skills and a strong work ethic. Over the past several years, feedlot research
and educational activities have increased at the Carrington Center to support further development of the feeding
industry in the state.
The North Dakota Stockmen’s
Association led the effort to fund a major feedmill renovation and expansion by
the ND Legislature. Significant progress
has been made to date toward completion of this facility with more work planned
in time for feeding studies in the fall of 2003. The major improvements in renovating the feed
center are 1) increased bulk storage capacity, 2) greater volume for processing
and mixing rations, 3) increased access and flexibility for grains,
co-products, and supplements in research diets, and 4) improved
accuracy of measuring ingredients in respective ration formulations. The Northern Crops Institute plays a key role
in supporting feedlot research at the Carrington Center by manufacturing supplements and processing additive
ingredients for specialized trials.
The Carrington Research Extension Center has been conducting feedlot research in some form
since 1977. Replicated feeding pens were
added in 1991 and pens built for bison research are now being used for feedlot
studies. The new mill will be capable of
feeding up to 1000 head with some pen renovations and staffing support in both
research and demonstration projects. The
basic mill infrastructure was funded with a $300,000 appropriation from the
legislature. Support from industry and
commodity groups will add needed items to maximize the operational potential of
the feed center.
Appreciation is expressed to
the following organizations for their significant financial commitments and
past support:
ND Barley Council
ND Corn Council
ND Oilseeds Council
ND Soybean Council
Dakota Growers Pasta Company
ND Livestock Endowment Foundation
ND Dry Pea and Lentil Association
Feedlot
research projects are developed and planned from a
variety of inputs and in some cases are funded by grants. Scientists from the Carrington Center and Animal and Range Science Department collaborate
on many research and educational projects. Ruminant nutrition laboratory
facilities and metabolism trials on campus plus graduate student involvement in
research studies are important collaborative links for quality research at
NDSU. Future research will build on
past information and lessons learned from others states. We will focus on the environment, genetics,
local feeds and forages, feeding management, and economics. Steers and heifers used in feeding studies
come from ranches in the region (some with retained ownership), other Research
Centers, or are purchased at regional sale barns.
Educational
activities at the Carrington Center include a highly successful feedlot school, economic
development activities, internships, publication and dissemination of all types
of feeding information, waste management guidance, and a variety of tours. The feedlot school has been held at least
annually in late January. This school
is also offered at the Northern Crops Institute in Fargo in early September.
Several cattle feeding projects with hundreds of producer owned steers
have been conducted to provide feedout and carcass data to ranchers across the
state while conducting research studies with commercial steers. On-farm visits,
Center tours by appointment, phone and email consultations are common for all
research and extension faculty.
Feedmill construction progress as of
June 1, 2003
