Feeding and rations

Experimenting here with a handful.

5kg rolled barley per day and ad-lib silage.

Seem to be moving along OK so far.
 
Experimenting here with a handful.

5kg rolled barley per day and ad-lib silage.

Seem to be moving along OK so far.

What balencers and minerals are you useing ?
Anyone useing rolled wheat instead of barley ?
 
No balancers used, a handful of powdered minerals when I think of it.

How important is minerals in a finishing diet?
 
No balancers used, a handful of powdered minerals when I think of it.

How important is minerals in a finishing diet?

I always thought that minerals weren't that important as they'd be gone in a few months when finishing,when there growing would be a different story though.
 
I'm always reminded of the KISS principle for feeding cattle.

On the above I don't see minerals in either of your diets, you may want to check that but I suspect FP's ration already includes that.

Here we are on ad lib silage and straw and depending on the group 6 to 8kgs of meal. This is about 70% homegrown rolled barley and the remaining 30% is a 20% barley balancer which includes minerals. We don't have a fancy diet feeder :rolleyes: so can't give weights if silage etc.

We have had good results from this over the past few years even last year with poorer silage and grain.
[MENTION=1411]nashmach[/MENTION] how do you mix the barley and balancer to get a consistent blend?

Don't feed a huge amount of ration here, about 2kg/head/day but looking at other options in terms of content/price.

What's in the balancer and how much is it costing if you don't mind me asking?
 
[MENTION=1411]nashmach[/MENTION] how do you mix the barley and balancer to get a consistent blend?

Don't feed a huge amount of ration here, about 2kg/head/day but looking at other options in terms of content/price.

What's in the balancer and how much is it costing if you don't mind me asking?

Walk along the barriers with a bucket of rolled barley x2 and then follow up with one of balancer. Balancer bucket not filled to ensure weight is in the right mix.

It is 20% protein, would have to look up contents but pretty sure similar is on the Gain website to give you an idea.

Around 285/t last time I bought any amount of it collected in bulk.
 
Walk along the barriers with a bucket of rolled barley x2 and then follow up with one of balancer. Balancer bucket not filled to ensure weight is in the right mix.

It is 20% protein, would have to look up contents but pretty sure similar is on the Gain website to give you an idea.

Around 285/t last time I bought any amount of it collected in bulk.

I know it depends on what's in it, but on the face of it that seems expensive, esp. collected.
 
I know it depends on what's in it, but on the face of it that seems expensive, esp. collected.

That paticular company are miles out on prices as a rule.

There will be lots of sunflower and only a token amout of soya if any in it unless theyve change alot. Straight distillers and a shake of minerals would be better value imo.

I know jf850 did something like that last winter.
 
I know it depends on what's in it, but on the face of it that seems expensive, esp. collected.
I will say it has been a while since I bought some. I don't think mixes like that have dropped hugely in price yet anyway. Plus we are not feeding many cattle here so when you are only drawing a few big bulk bags of it every few weeks that makes a difference. That is only the price of the balancer itself not the end product.

Minimum delivery around here is 5t anyway.
That paticular company are miles out on prices as a rule.

There will be lots of sunflower and only a token amout of soya if any in it unless theyve change alot. Straight distillers and a shake of minerals would be better value imo.

I know jf850 did something like that last winter.
I know that but in general most millers will have a broadly similar product and I was giving that as an example.

Finishing cattle here, I'm more concerned about energy than protein and using homegrown barley. Also for the small amount of purchased meal here you also have to take into account additional work and facilities for extra ingredients plus vitally the inclusion of minerals and vitamins.
 
Distillers are very high energy. Would be higher energy than the gain balancer and around 30 % protien

If you get a chance will you get the ingredients and the current price it would be interesting to compare.
 
Distillers are very high energy. Would be higher energy than the gain balancer and around 30 % protien

If you get a chance will you get the ingredients and the current price it would be interesting to compare.
Will do and if I don't come back to me.[emoji106]
 
Surely barley is a very cheap feed.
Some w barley is 13% protien. if you felt the protein was a bit low just give them another kg. Rolled barley probally 170 euro.
 
Surely barley is a very cheap feed.
Some w barley is 13% protien. if you felt the protein was a bit low just give them another kg. Rolled barley probally 170 euro.

Not at €140 green it won't, probably closer to €190
 
[MENTION=4891]Willplow[/MENTION], I presume that is a 14%/16% protein - full mix for calves and yearlings?

May be wrong on that. (wouldn't be the first time)
 
Not at €140 green it won't, probably closer to €190

your cheaper than me. i was thinking barley at 150 then 20 to get it rolled and acid applied. Lots of grain and straw for sale now at very low prices.
No livestock farmer will be able to complain about the cost this year.
Buy now from a grain farmer.
 
I priced ration today , high maize bull beef finisher , bulk @ €235, not bad value
 
Back
Top