Protein balancing options for ruminant diets this winter

With winter rations now being planned and feed supplies assessed, many livestock producers are facing reduced availability and higher prices for traditional protein sources, particularly distillery co-products. For beef and sheep enterprises that rely on straights for home-mixing or balancing total mixed rations (TMRs), many livestock producers are exploring alternative feeds to balance winter rations.

The following have all contributed to the limited supply of distillery by products available to livestock producers;

• Closure of the Ensus bioethanol plant last year
• Closure and reopening of the Vivergo plant
• A period of downtime in distilleries
• Competition from other industries

This has prompted several calls regarding alternative options for this season from those reliant onstraights to home mix or balance total mixed rations on farm. So, what are the options available to producers for this season and the considerations to be made?

(Please note nutritional breakdown of feeds should be used as a guide and may vary depending on source and variety)

With forage making up the base of the majority of ruminant rations (apart from intensively fed finishing stock), optimising forage quality is always the first port of call to limit the requirements for additional supplementation in cattle and sheep rations. Consideration should be made to soil pH, species mix, fertiliser applications, grazing management, maturity at harvest and silaging practices to optimise quality where possible. As a guide the below table shows the minimum protein requirement (total diet) depending on stage of production.

Lorna Shaw, Senior Beef and Sheep Nutritionist, Lorna.Shaw@sac.co.uk

Posted by SAC Consulting on 17/08/2026