WIE IS ONS

Mixcure fokus op die wetenskaplik gebaseerde en praktiese formulering van voere en praktyke van voedingsbestuur om die genetiese produksiepotensiaal van diere ten volle te benut. In hierdie proses word die volgende faktore deeglik in aanmerking geneem, naamlik die:
  • dier se aanpassingstatus en groeipotensiaal;
  • voerbestanddele waarmee voere geformuleer moet word;
  • toerusting waarmee voere mee geprosesseer en gemeng moet word;
  • voer- en hanteringsfasiliteite waarmee bestuurpraktyke toegepas moet word.

ABOUT US

Mixcure focuses on the scientifically based and practical formulation of feeds, together with nutritional management practices, to fully utilize the genetic production potential of animals. In this process, the following factors are carefully taken into consideration, namely:


  • the animal’s adaptation status and growth potential;
  • the feed ingredients available for feed formulation;
  • the equipment used for feed processing and mixing;
  • the feeding and handling facilities through which management practices must be implemented.

Aanpassingstatus en groeipotensiaal

Intensiewe produksiestelsels soos voerkrale skep ‘n omgewing wat aanvanklike spanning by kalwers betekenisvol verhoog.  Hierdie spanning daag die natuurlike immuunstelsel en dus gesondheidstatus van dier uit wat negatief vir die groeipotensiaal van die dier is. Hoe vinniger die dier kan herstel en aanpas by nuwe omstandighede hoe beter produksieresultate kan verwag word.
Die volgende faktore dra by tot die verhoogde spanning van diere met bestuur in aanmerking geneem moet word:
  • Speenskok van pasgespeende diere – grootste skok vir kalf;
  • Fisiologiese ouderdom – hoe jonger hoe meer spanning;
  • Aanvangsmassa – hoe laer hoe meer aanpassing is nodig en spanning word geskep;
  • Vervoerproses – groter afstand (ure), lae temperature en wind; dehidrasie, beserings;
  • Sosiale vermenging en orde – met vreemde ander diere;
  • Nuwe/vreemde patogene – elke kraal bou eie stel patogene op waaraan diere blootgestel word.

Adaption status and growth potential

Intensive production systems such as feedlots, create and environment that significantly increases initial stress levels in calves. This stress challenges the animal's natural immune system and overall health status, which negatively affects its growth potential. The faster the animal can recover and adapt to new conditions, the better the expected production performance.

The following factors contribute to increased stress in animals and must be carefully considered in management practices:

  • Weaning shock in newly weaned animals – the greatest source of stress for calves;
  • Physiological age – the younger the animal, the greater the stress;
  • Initial body mass – the lower the body weight, the greater the need for adaptation and the higher the stress level;
  • Transport process – longer distances (hours), low temperatures, and wind; dehydration and injuries;
  • Social mixing and hierarchy – introduction to unfamiliar animals;
  • New or unfamiliar pathogens – each feedlot develops its own set of pathogens to which animals are exposed;
  • New or unfamiliar feed composition – the digestive system must adapt to new feed sources and nutrients, which can limit the availability of energy and strategic nutrients.

Voerbestanddele vir voerformulasie

Die voerbestanddele waarmee voere geformuleer moet word moet energie, proteïen minerale en vitamins as voedingstowwe verskaf terwyl die herkouer ook ruvoer nodig het om te funksioneer. Met ‘n dinamiese en komplekse proses word voerbestanddele deur rumenmikrobes verteer wat verteringseindprodukte aan die dier beskikbaar stel om te benut. Die voedingstowwe moet in ‘n bepaalde verhouding of in balans volgens die behoefte van die mikobes vermeng word vir maksimum vertering en produksie deur die dier. Hierdie samestelling van voerbestanddele is die proses van voerformulering.
Faktore wat met voerformulering in aanmerking geneem word is die volgende:
  • Fisiese vorm of prosessering van voere vir gewensde rumenfunksie;
  • Die aanpassingsbehoefte van diere met aankoms by die kraal asook die oorgang van een fase na die volgende;
  • Die wetenskaplik beproefte voedingstofkonsentrasie en balans vir maksimum rumenfunksie en vir elke fase van groei afsonderlik;
  • Die beskikbare voerbronne waarmee die voere geformuleer moet word;
  • Die beskikbaarheid van dieselfde voerbronne om die druk op mikrobesamestelling en voedingsteurnisse te bestuur;
  • Die prosesseringstatus (partikelgrootte) van elke voerbestanddeel wat die verterings-oppervlakte en-dinamika in die verteringstelsel (rumen en dunderm) bepaal;
  • Die beskikbaarheid en samestelling van voormengsels wat die nodige strategiese (makro- en mikrominerale) asook medikamente (indien nodig) voorsien;
  • Skoon, vars en goeie kwaliteit drinkwater is ‘n onontbeerlike voedingsbron in die voerkraal.

Feed ingredients for feed formulation

The feed ingredients used in feed formulation must provide energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins as essential nutrients, while the ruminant also requires roughage to maintain normal rumen function. Through a dynamic and complex process, feed ingredients are digested by rumen microbes, which produce end-products that become available for the animal to utilize. These nutrients must be supplied in specific proportions and balance according to the requirements of the microbes to ensure maximum digestion efficiency and optimal animal production. This composition and balancing of feed ingredients constitute the process of feed formulation.
The following factors are considered in feed formulation:
  • The physical form or processing of feeds to support the desired rumen function;
  • The adaptation requirements of animals upon arrival at the feedlot, as well as the transition from one growth phase to the next;
  • Scientifically proven nutrient concentrations and balance required for maximum rumen function and for each phase of growth separately;
  • The available feed resources from which rations must be formulated;
  • The consistent availability of the same feed resources to reduce pressure on microbial populations and prevent nutritional disturbances;
  • The processing status (particle size) of each feed ingredient, which determines the digestive surface area and digestion dynamics within the digestive system (rumen and small intestine);
  • The availability and composition of premixes that provide the necessary strategic nutrients (macro- and micro-minerals), as well as medications where required;
  • Clean, fresh and high-quality drink water is a indispensable feed source in the feedlot.

Toerusting vir prosessering en vermeniging van voere

Maksimum vrywillige voerinname is ‘n primêre voorvereiste vir maksimum groei. Die grootste stimulus vir vrywillige voerinname vir beeste is verteerbaarheid of korrekte voerformulasie terwyl die fisiese vorm en faktore soos reuk en smaak asook daaglikse beskikbaar ook ‘n direkte invloed uitoefen.
Die volgende moet in hierdie verband oorweeg word:
  • Die verhouding van voerbestanddele vir korrekte voedingstofbalans en maksimum vertering moet tydens die aanvanklike mengproses toegepas word. Hoe meer van outomatiese (elektroniese) toerusting gebruik gemaak word hoe beter word menslike foute uitgeskakel en die proses akkurater en konstant bestuur.
  • Na vermenging en voorsiening in die voerkrip, moet die voer deurgaans in balans en homogeen bly om aan al die diere dieselfde voer te verskaf. Die voerbestanddele moet dus nie gedurende die dag, voor die volgende voeding seggregeer of skei nie. Die fisiese vorm, partikelgrootte en voginhoud van die voer bepaal grootliks hierdie voorvereiste.
  • Van die voerbestanddele, soos ruvoere, word seisoenaal gestoor en oor langer periodes (maande) gebruik. Hoe varser en ongekontamineer die voer is hoe beter vrywillige inname kan verwag word. Voere moet dus droog gehou word en in geval van kuilvoere moet die aangewese stoormetodes vir beste kwaliteit toegepas word.






Feed processing and mixing equipment

Maximum voluntary feed intake is a primary prerequisite for achieving maximum growth. The greatest stimulus for voluntary feed intake in cattle is digestibility of feed, which is largely influenced by correct feed formulation, while the physical form of the feed, as well as factors such as smell, taste, and consistent daily availability, also have a direct effect.
The following aspects should be considered in this regard:
  • The proportion of feed ingredients required to achieve correct nutrient balance and maximum digestibility must be accurately applied during the initial mixing process. The greater the use of automated (electronic) equipment, the more effectively human error is eliminated, allowing the process to be managed with greater accuracy and consistency;
  • After mixing and delivery into the feed bunker, the feed must remain balanced and homogeneous throughout the feeding period to ensure that all animals receive the same nutritional composition. Feed ingredients should therefore not segregate or separate during the day before the next feeding. The physical form, particle size, and moisture content of the feed largely determine this requirement;
  • Some feed ingredients, such as roughages, are stored seasonally and used over extended periods (months). The fresher and less contaminated the feed, the better the expected voluntary intake. Feed should therefore be kept dry, and in the case of silage, the recommended storage methods should be applied to maintain optimum quality;
  • Feed and water troughs should be cleaned daily or completely consumed to prevent the buildup of pathogens and undesirable odours that may inhibit feed intake;
  • To ensure that each animal in a pen can achieve maximum daily feed intake, proper pen design with adequate feeding space is essential.

Voer- en hanteringsfasiliteite vir effektiewe voedingsbestuur

‘n Beesvoerkraal word ontwerp om diere maksimum vrywillige voerinname oor die kortste voerperiode te bereik en daardeur die genetiese potensiaal van die bees om die voer na waardevolle eindproduk om te skakel, effektief te bereik. Die voordeel is verder dat diere op ‘n relatiewe klein area effektief hanteer en bestuur kan word. Die belangrikste nadeel van so ‘n intensiewe stelsel dat dit ‘n onnatuurlike omgewing vir die herkouer gee waarby die diere gekondisioneer en aangepas moet word. Hierdie aanpassing lei tot addisionele spanning wat die diere se immunstelsel uitdaag en tot hoër gesondheidrisiko aanleiding gee.
Die volgende moet in die ontwerp van hanteringsfasiliteite in aanmerking geneem word:
  • Die ontwerp van die krale en hanteringsfasiliteite moet op effektiewe voeding en maklike hantering gefokus wees. Hierdie standaard word deur so min as moontlik menslike betrokkenheid gekenmerk;
  • Voer- en waterkrippe moet daagliks skoon gemaak word om opbou van patogene en vreemde reuke, wat inname inhibeer, te vermy. Vermorsing van voer uit die voerkrip moet vermy word;
  • Om te sorg dat elke dier in ‘n kraal daagliks maksimum voerinname kan bereik, is die ontwerp van kraal ten opsigte van voldoende vreet- en beweegspasie noodsaaklik.
  • Mis bou tipies op in die kraal en moet dit jaarliks verwyder word.
  • Vir die bestuur van aanvanklike inname en prosessering, opvolg herimmunisering en/of behandeling, tussentydse weeg en uitlaai is effektiewe en doelgemaakte hanteringsfasiliteite noodsaaklik.
  • Om aan voorgeskrewe bio-sekuriteitsmaatreëls te voldoen, is enersyds doelmatige toerusting en fasiliteite noodsaaklik.

Feed and handling facilities for effective nutritional management

A cattle feedlot is designed to enable animals to achieve maximum voluntary feed intake over the shortest possible feeding period, thereby allowing the animal to efficiently realize its genetic potential to convert feed into a valuable end-product. A further advantage is that animals can be effectively handled and managed within a relatively small area. The main disadvantage of such an intensive system is that it creates an unnatural environment for the ruminant, requiring animals to be conditioned and adapted accordingly. This adaptation results in additional stress, which challenges the animals’ immune system and increases health risks.
The following factors should be considered in the design of handling facilities:
  • The design of pens and handling facilities should focus on effective feeding and ease of handling. This standard is characterized by minimal human involvement wherever possible.
  • Feed and water troughs should be cleaned daily to prevent the buildup of pathogens and undesirable odours that may inhibit feed intake. Feed wastage from the feed trough should be minimized;
  • To ensure that each animal in a pen can achieve maximum daily feed intake, proper pen design with adequate feeding and movement space is essential.
  • Manure typically accumulates in the pen and should be removed annually.
  • Effective and purpose-built handling facilities are essential for the management of initial intake and processing, follow-up re-immunization and/or treatment, intermediate weighing, and final loading.
  • Compliance with prescribed biosecurity measures requires appropriate and functional equipment and facilities.