1. Ridley Block Operations
Blocks for Today
Compressed
Low moisture Block

2. Block Topics Supplement Strategies Manufacturing Overview
General Product Differentiation

3. Beef Cow/Calf Nutrition 101
Supplementing Forage Diets

4. Cow/Calf nutrition programs should optimize resources for Cow-Calf Production

5. Common Inputs Pasture, hay, crop residue, silage and other forages
Feed grains and supplements
Labor, equipment and management

6. Expected Outputs Yearly calving interval Optimal calf growth
weaning weights
acceptable quality criteria
calf health

7. Beef Cow Nutrient Requirements
- Key nutrients that drive performance
- Specific conditions can increase their importance
- Normal conditions require balanced supplementation
- TM imbalances can occur and can be a result of other antagonists (i.e. S, Mo or Fe)
Energy and Protein
Macro Minerals
Ca, P, K, S, Mg
Micro Nutrients
Cu, Zn, Mn, Co, I, Vit A, D, E
(trace minerals and vitamins)

8. The Ruminant Advantage
Rumen fermentation allows ruminant animals to capture energy (cellulose) and other nutrients from forages
A common goal and economic advantage is to utilize this forage/pasture resource
Oftentimes, forages alone may not optimize cow reproduction or cow and calf performance needs

9. Positive Associative Effect
When rumen degradable protein supplements are fed they stimulate fiber fermentation by having a positive associative effect on microbial populations in the rumen
2 + 2 = 5

10. Negative Associative Effect
Some supplements or feeds can impair fiber fermentation and have a negative associative effect (grains, starches or high levels of fat). These interfere with microbial populations that specialize in fermenting fiber.
2 + 2 = 3

11. Low Quality Forages Need Help
Fermentation of low quality forages slows down and thereby reducing forage intake (cows fill up)
Supplemental protein digested in the rumen helps increase forage fiber digestibility and often increases the amount of forage cows can consume

12. Increased digestibility = Increased intake = Increased Nutrients
“Positive Associative Effect”
Providing rumen degradable supplemental protein when feeding low quality forages creates a “win-win” situation

13. LMB Compared to Corn on Forage Intake
Dry Matter Intake
No Supplement
Corn
Low Moisture Block (LMB)
Forage(5.7% CP), lb.
14.8a
13.1b
16.5c
Supplement, lb. -
3.4
1.0
Total Intake, lb.
16.5b
17.5c
(uncommon superscripts differ P<.05) (KSU 1997)
11% increase in forage intake for LMB
11% decrease in forage intake for corn

14. LMB Compared to Corn on Forage Utilization
Digestibility
No Supplement
Corn
Low Moisture Block (LMB)
Forage NDF Intake, lb.
10.8a
9.6b
12.1c
NDF Digestibility, %
49.2a
42.1b
52.9a
(uncommon superscripts differ P<.05) (KSU 1997)
12% increase in forage NDF intake for LMB
14% decrease in forage digestibility for corn

15. Putting Crystalyx to work with your Cow herd:
Low Quality Forage
7.0% CP and 48% TDN
1.75% DMI for a 1200 lb. cow
Crude Protein
Total Digestible Nutrients
Cow Requirements (last stage gest.), lb.
1.75
11.9
Forage, lb.
1.47
10.1
Deficiency, lb.
-.28
-1.8

16. Total Digestible Nutrients
Solution:
Rite-Lix 32-18% CP LMB
.75 lb. consumption
10% estimated increased intake
Dry Matter Intake
Crude Protein
Total Digestible Nutrients
Forage, lb. 23
1.61
11.04
LMB, lb.
.75
.24
.50
TOTAL
23.75 lbs.
1.85
11.54
Cow Requirements
1.75
11.9

17. Total Digestible Nutrients
Rite-Blox 20% Compressed Block
2.00 lb. consumption
5% estimated increased intake ?
Dry Matter Intake
Crude Protein
Total Digestible Nutrients
Forage, lb. 22
1.54
10.56
20% Rite-Blox, lb.
2.00
.40
1.40
TOTAL
24.0 lbs.
1.94
11.96
Cow Requirements
1.75
11.9

18. Aren’t we still short on energy (TDN) for Rite-Lix example?
Don’t forget about an increase in fiber digestibility
Estimate 10% improvement
( = 12.1lbs. TDN)
(Cow requirement = 11.9 lbs. TDN)
Additional energy for body stores or use under stress conditions

19. Montana State Univ. 2002

20. Don’t forget other Rite-Lix® Advantages
Labor savings
Self-Fed, available 24/7
Highly palatable, but highly controlled intake
Minimal delivery, feeding or storage equipment and investment required
Weatherproof
Consistent, Cost-effective Results

21. Summary How can a little Rite-Lix® help meet nutrient requirements?
Increased forage intake
Increased digestibility of forage
Provides additional key nutrients

22. How does Rite-Lix® work?
MAXIMUM
RETURN
OPTIMUM?
INPUT

23. When’s the BEST Time of Year to (start) Supplement?
Considering cow production data, forage and economics; it’s Actually now!
Contrary statement I’m sure but when you think like mother nature, a cow, and a nutritionist it does makes sense.

24. BLOCK MANUFACTURING Quality and Experience Counts

25. “Batch Cooking” Disadvantage = Cost Advantage = Consistency
Benefit = Customer

26. Rite-Lix Low moisture blocks
Dehydrated Molasses based blocks
Consistent low daily intakes
Higher price point – Low Cost per hd per day
Based on supplying first incremental nutrients
Consistent hardness coupled with palatable ingredients results in consistent, predictable consumption.
Predictable consumption = predictable feed costs

27. Compressed Block Manufacturing
Dry ingredients put together in a premix
Premix is metered and blended with liquids and DDG’S in a blender & weighed into containers
Product is compressed in containers and immediately packaged for shipment

30. Rite-Blox Features DDGS (Corn) Based Formulations
Fermented DDGS are highly palatable
Vegetable based (No Animal Protein Products)
Excellent source of Protein, Phos and Oil
Intake range provides for higher nutrient payload
Lower cost manufacturing and ingredient profile provide a competitive price point

31. Quick comparisons between the blocks
Rite-Blox®
Compressed DDGS
Intake of 1.0 to 2.0 lbs
Features:
Low Price Point
Manage Intake
Higher Nutrient Payload
Potential Refill Option
Rite-Lix®
Dehydrated Molasses
Intake of 0.5 to 1.0 lbs
Features:
High Price point
Consistent, Low Intake
Predictable Product Performance
Low cost/hd/day

32. Blocks Sold In Canada Poured & Compressed Blocks Low Moisture Blocks
AGRI-BLOK – Morinville AB.
Masterlyx – Morinville AB.
UNIBLOCK – Rockyford AB.
Power Pak – Barehead AB.
Sweetlyx – RNS
RiteBlox – Feed-Rite
SweetPro – Wallhalla ND
ProStock – UFA – ADM
Range Buster – UFA – ADM
Sweet Cake – Cargill - Westway
Low Moisture Blocks
Rite-Lix – Feed-Rite
Crystalyx - Hubbard
Masterlyx – Master Feeds
Smartlic – Unifeed, Blair’s
Vitalix Inc – Alliance NE –
Co-op
OLS (Orwigs) – Ellendale ND - Saltec, Rio Max,
Tublicks – Out of Business
Agri-Blok - Washington

33. “Continuous Flow” Process The Competition is doing this!
MOLASSES
STEAM
The Competition is doing this!
Advantage = Cost
Disadvantage = Consistency
Benefit = Manufacturer

34. Blocks Sold In Canada Low Moisture Blocks Smartlic – Unifeed, Blair’s
Rite-Lix – Feed-Rite
Crystalyx - Hubbard
Masterlyx – Master Feeds
Smartlic – Unifeed, Blair’s
Vitalix Inc – Alliance NE –
Co-op
OLS (Orwigs) – Ellendale ND - Saltec, Rio Max,
Tublicks – Out of Business
Agri-Blok - Washington

35. Poured Blocks Poured blocks are made by combining
primarily liquid ingredients with some reactive ingredient(s)
Process varies tremendously between manufacturers
Liquid and reactive ingredients

37. Packaging (Poured Blocks)
Plastic
Cardboard boxes

38. Poured Blocks

39. Blocks Sold In Canada Poured & Compressed Blocks
AGRI-BLOK – Morinville AB.
Masterlyx – Morinville AB.
UNIBLOCK – Rockyford AB.
Power Pak – Barehead AB.
RiteBlox – Feed-Rite
SweetPro – Wallhalla ND
ProStock – UFA – ADM
Range Buster – UFA – ADM
Sweet Cake – Westway

40. Quick comparisons between the blocks
Rite-Blox®
Compressed DDGS
Intake of 1.0 to 2.0 lbs
Features:
Low Price Point
Manage Intake
Higher Nutrient Payload
Rite-Lix®
Dehydrated Molasses
Intake of 0.5 to 1.0 lbs
Features:
High Price point
Consistent, Low Intake
Predictable Product Performance
Low cost/hd/day