Farm Supply
Whether agriculture is your livelihood or lifestyle, MFA has you covered.
Whether you’re running a large cattle operation or caring for a few acres of land, MFA can provide all the supplies, equipment and tools needed for farming and rural living.
Row crops to ranches and everything in between
MFA carries all the supplies, equipment and tools needed for farming and rural living.
Next sale dates: October 2-October 11
Find savings at your local MFA.
MFA Farm Supply offers sales throughout the year. Our current sales flyer will display here on this page when active, so check back often!
Nothin’ works harder
Herdsman Brand is Your Brand
Featured Vendor: Parker-McCrory
Tradition and innovation work together in carefully crafted coexistence at Parker McCrory Manufacturing in Kansas City, Mo.
Inside the unassuming brick building at 2000 Forest Avenue, dozens of workers fabricate, assemble, test and package the company’s Parmak electric fence chargers, using many of the same time-trusted methods that have given the brand an unmatched reputation for quality throughout its 100-plus-year history. Meanwhile, in a neighboring facility across the street, state-of-the-art, computer-driven machines are building a new generation of circuit boards that will give Parmak electric fence chargers advanced capabilities.
Taking technology to the next level has been a hallmark of the company from the very start. Read more here.
Waste not, want not when feeding hay
Hay wastage is a perennial problem. With hay in scarce supply and at premium prices, producers would be well-advised to do everything they can to minimize loss of this valuable feedstuff.
Much of the hay waste we see in livestock operations is attributed to feeding practices. Losses can reach as much as 50% when bales are unrolled and fed on the ground, according to research by Dr. Robert Kallenbach of the University of Missouri. Limiting a cow’s consumption to a day’s worth of forage at a time can help reduce the amount that gets trampled on and not consumed. If you offer a lot of hay all at once, the cattle tend to waste more.
Using a hay feeder can allow forage to be better utilized and significantly reduce the amount of waste. Keep in mind, however, that feeder design does make a difference. Michigan State University researchers measured round bale hay waste using four types of feeders:
- Cone feeders resulted in the least waste at 3.5%.
- Ring feeders were next, with a waste of 6.1%.
- Trailer feeders resulted in 11.4% waste.
- Cradle feeders resulted in the greatest amount of waste among the four, measuring 14.6%.
Research conducted at the University of Missouri also considered the impact of stocking rate on the amount of hay wasted between chain cone feeders and open-bottom ring feeders. At all stocking rates measured, hay waste was greater in open-bottom ring feeders than in chain cone feeders. When forage quality was high (17% crude protein alfalfa haylage), hay waste did not differ between feeder types. However, when forage quality was low (7.5% crude protein fescue hay), 19.2% of the bale was wasted in open-bottom ring feeders, compared to 8.9% in cone-type feeders. This research, among other studies, indicates that the decrease in wasted hay will more than pay for the additional cost of the cone-type hay feeders.
Feeder management can also reduce hay waste. Keeping the feeder out of the mud can have a big impact. Hay dropped on dry or frozen ground is much more likely to be picked up by the animal than hay dropped on mud. Feeding pads or concrete aprons are even better.
MFA offers many different styles of hay feeders to serve the needs of your operation. If you need help in your selection or more information on efficient hay-feeding practices, visit with the livestock experts at your MFA location.
ASK US ANY QUESTIONS
If you have a question related to one of MFA’s products, send us a message here. We will direct it to the appropriate expert and get you an answer. If you have specific questions about product availability or pricing at your MFA retail store, contact your MFA representative or use our Store Locator to find information for the location nearest you.