Count the next collection
Look at which animals will be ready first and prepare that feed before less urgent types. A balanced-looking queue is not useful if the cows are waiting now.
Protect crop inputs
Reserve enough wheat, corn, soybeans and other required crops before selling surplus. Newspaper replacements cost time and may not appear when needed.
Use both mills as one system
When additional capacity is available, dedicate slots by timing or animal group rather than duplicating the same feed blindly. Recheck after every large collection.
Queue before leaving
Fill remaining slots with feed that matches the animals you expect to collect on return. This turns an absence into prepared production rather than an empty mill.
Field note
Plan feed from the next animal collection backward, then protect the crops that make that plan possible.