One of the biggest considerations when determining pricing and costs of livestock feed equipment is your business's budget. If you find the ideal equipment but cannot afford to purchase it, then it's not going to do you any good. While you want to locate efficient machinery, you don't want to end up broke during the process.

The first thing you need to do is determine your livestock feeding equipment budget. This can help narrow down the numerous machinery options available. Don't worry if you cannot afford high-end equipment at this juncture; there's an option out there for everyone in the livestock business. Consider the following when determining pricing and costs of livestock feed equipment:

1. Purchase new, reliable cattle feeding equipment from manufacturers and distributors.

2. Cut costs, and consider buying used livestock feeding equipment.

3. Rent or lease livestock feed equipment, as it's a cost-effective way to free up funds.

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Buy new feed equipment from a farm and feed supply company

Buying new cattle feed equipment can be an ideal choice for any business, as it offers reliability and dependability that you may not find in used equipment. Most farm and feed supply companies or manufacturers offer a warranty to back up those claims or can provide replacements for little cost to you as a consumer. Commonly-used equipment such as feeders, including bunk and wall units, range from $125 to almost $300. While waterers, from simple to electric versions, range from $30 to $450.

I recommend: Search the animal feed equipment listed at Blain's Farm & Fleet. Choose from its animal handling, feeders and waterers or livestock feed to equip your facility. Check out St. Hedwig Feed and its cattle and horse feed supplies selection.

Purchase used livestock feeding equipment to free up funds

Consider purchasing used feed equipment if money is tight for your facility. As long as you know how to properly operate the equipment, then buying used equipment should work fine. Again, it's best to make sure you receive some sort of warranty before you purchase the equipment. You should save anywhere from one-third to one-half the price of a new piece of equipment. Used portable feeder wagons range from $4,000 to upward of $28,000, where the cost depends on the model and size.

I recommend: Consider buying used livestock feeding equipment from Equipment for the Farm. It offers many of the top-selling brands; simply search the site. Look to Equipment Locator Service and its listing of used livestock feeding equipment.

Lease feed supplies if you're new to the industry or want to free up funds

Leasing livestock feeding equipment offers a short-term commitment if you're starting out in the business or if you aren't sure if this market is for you. It's also ideal for those who need to free up some money, perhaps to offer up more money to employ extra workers. Leasing also provides a chance to own feed equipment, such as a mobile cattle feeder, that you might not have been able to afford otherwise. On average, a small cost is paid up front while common rates range from as low as .0197 percent to as much as .5346 percent. Such rates depend on the purchase options as well as the length of the lease, from 24 to 60 months.

I recommend: Check the leasing and financing options provided by Morgan Livestock Equipment Sales. Its site provides a chart to examine fees and overall costs through leasing your cattle equipment. Look to AG Lease, which helps those in the agricultural field. Search through its many leasing options to find the ideal one for your business.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Find feed equipment for sale at an auction, where you can choose from both new and used. If you live in an industrial area, then you might be able to find one nearby; otherwise check government-run auctions online.

Farmers know that livestock feed equipment goes beyond the basic barn fare. It encompasses feed supplies cattle equipment, hog feeding equipment and horse feed supplies for in the barn and out in the pasture. Depending on the size of one’s business and location, the equipment must hold enough feed for your livestock and be capable of going over tough terrain.

Find farm feed supply equipment suited to your specific desires by looking into the following options:

1. Meet with a farming consultant to establish livestock feed equipment criteria.

2. Decide whether it’s best for your farm to purchase or lease equipment for farm and feed supply.

3. Purchase feed supplies and equipment from high-quality suppliers.

Action Steps
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Consult with a manufacturer for feed equipment

Every farm is unique from the lay of the land to the feeding of the livestock. You might need a vibratory feeder bowl, gravity and horizontal in-line track, placement devices, machine bases and tables or conveyors and storage hoppers. Manufacturers recognize this and are willing to work with consumers to provide the best equipment possible for each individual farm.

I recommend: California Vibratory Feeders Inc., a manufacturer of automated equipment, specializes in products with vibratory or centrifugal feeders, including centrifugal parts handling systems, pre-feeders, turn-key controls, photo optic recognition systems and escapements. If your business exigency includes low noise or high noise and high-feed rate capacity, look into purchasing from Arthur G. Russell Co., Inc., a certified designer and manufacturer of turn-key factory automation equipment.

Get quotes from a livestock feed equipment distributor

Buying from a local distributor is often beneficial for a farm in regards to delivery or dealing with problems; however, purchasing from a distributor elsewhere might benefit your business when it comes to finding obscure custom equipment.

I recommend: SUR-FEED™ Roll Feeders RF-110 TO RF-630 from AZCO Corp. index webs of material through a production process and performs intermittent motion like cutting or stamping. For more specialized equipment, your business might want to consider talking with a distributor or getting a quote from Osborne Industries, Inc. They specialize in manufacturing equipment for all types of automated, mechanical and electronic self-feeders for livestock.

Base your feed supply and equipment purchases specifically on the size of your farming business

Large and small farms have very different equipment. Purchasing from a supplier who specializes in the various types of farms ensures that you have the proper equipment for your unique purposes.

I recommend: If you have a large farm, consider purchasing equipment like electromagnetic feeders from The Cleveland Vibrator Company, which manufactures feeding machinery for controlling bulk materials. Smaller farms might want to consider purchasing equipment from General Kinematics Corporation, a vibratory equipment supplier who helps customers reduce downtime and increase their throughput and profitability.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When purchasing from a farm and feed supply, inquire whether or not they offer free delivery on purchases.

Agricultural farmers, distributors, and manufacturers all benefit from livestock feed equipment education and training. Through training, farmers learn the most productive and profitable techniques for feeding their livestock. Distributors learn which types of feeding equipment farmers need and use the most. Manufacturers learn which types of feeding equipment to market and how to improve their product for more sales.

Livestock feeding equipment takes on a variety of styles, sizes, and purposes. Poultry feeding equipment is very different from horse and cattle equipment. Feeding equipment also differs in the type of feed that it accommodates; grain feeding is different from hay feeding. When thinking about how your business benefits from livestock feed equipment education and training, think about the following:

1. Which types of livestock markets does your feeding equipment attract?

2. Can you offer tips and advice on livestock feeding equipment?

3. Do you make, sell, or use livestock feeding equipment in your business?

Action Steps
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Enroll in educational courses for learning about livestock feeding equipment

A formal education is one way to gain more knowledge about livestock feeding and feeding equipment. Some higher education programs offer courses and degrees pertaining to agricultural and livestock. Most of these programs offer courses in a variety of topics including feeding nutrition and equipment. Gaining a degree or selecting particular courses both help you gain information on livestock feeding equipment.

I recommend: University of Georgia offers degrees and classes in agricultural topics. CEV offers courses on DVD designed to increase knowledge in livestock and livestock feeding.

Attend farm equipment shows as a resource for gaining information on feed equipment

If you do not desire a formal education in livestock feeding, then observation and discussion from experts may be the way to go. Learn about livestock feeding equipment from talking with manufacturers and dealers at farm equipment shows and exhibits. Discuss your questions about feeding livestock and feeding equipment on forums.

I recommend: Pasco Ag Show offers information about equipment exhibits. The National Grain and Feed Association holds various seminars and conventions dealing with the feeding of grain to livestock. The National Farm Machinery Show is a major industry event.

Seek online resources that discuss livestock feed equipment

Articles are another way to gain more information and training on feeding equipment. Search for equipment in general or for equipment pertaining to livestock feeding, or conduct a search for information pertaining to a specific breed of livestock such as cattle or goats. Discover which types of feeding equipment work best for each type of livestock through articles. For example, study the differences in cattle feed equipment and hog feeding equipment.

I recommend: Premier Services offers information specific to feeding goats and goat feed supplies. Read an article from North Dakota State University that discusses cattle feeding equipment and the feeding options.

Learn from feed equipment manufacturers

Ask feed equipment makers about their support services, including training at your feed operation.

I recommend: New Holland and John Deere offer extensive customer training and support for their farm machinery, including hay and forage equipment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Livestock feeding equipment often includes watering containers and sources. When studying types of feeding equipment be certain also to take a look into the types of equipment used to water livestock.

If you are purchasing livestock, there are some livestock feed equipment key terms you should know. Whether you have cattle, hogs, sheep or horses, there are some pieces of livestock equipment necessary for keeping all kinds of animals. As you read this guide, you'll notice that the list of livestock feed equipment key terms primarily deals with equipment for larger animals. Where you live can also affect the livestock equipment you need for your herd.

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Hay baler

Since many types of animals depend on hay to help them get through the winter, a hay baler is a major piece of livestock feed equipment. A hay baler shapes dried grass into a storable size until you feed it to the animal in the winter. Hay balers make large and small bales, as well as round and square.

I recommend: See the information about hay balers at AgrAbilityProject.org.

Hay fork

A hay fork mounts on a tractor's three-point hitch. It lifts a hay bale and moves it to the hay ring for feeding or can move the hay to its storage location.

I recommend: There’s a photo of a hay fork from Power Trac.

Waterer

An automatic waterer allows animals to have access to water at all times. While you can run water in an open tank, in the wintertime this is not a good option because the water could freeze. Automatic waterers do need a water source, as well as an electrical source, in order to operate in all weather.

I recommend: Ritchie has waterers for all types of livestock.

Feed bunks

Feed bunks are long troughs that you put livestock feed in. You can find livestock feed bunks in a variety of materials. If possible, choose feed bunks made of material that doesn't rust or degrade in any manner.

I recommend: See the feed bunks from Werk Weld.

Hay ring

A hay ring confines the large bale of hay in one place. This reduces waste because the cattle or horses cannot tramp the hay into the ground, they can only eat it.

I recommend: The Hay-Mizer system is one example of a hay ring.

Mineral feeder

You put loose salt or minerals in a mineral feeder. Most mineral feeders protect the minerals from the wind and rain so that you get more value from the products. Livestock come to these feeders as needed to get their daily allowance of salt and minerals.

I recommend: Agri Supply has a polyurethane mineral feeder on display.