Feeding wheat to cows.

Tarw Coch · Sep 5, 2021

Due to an abundance of silage I’ve combined my wheat that was destined for wholecrop, what are my options for feeding it to the cows? Mobile mill and mix is first though but what about caustic wheat, could I do that myself, how does it work? Any other options?

Courier · Sep 5, 2021

If you have a diet feeder to mix the wheat with water and caustic then there is no reason to go down the dusty approach ...

https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/uploads/Caustic-Treated-Grain-FN.pdf

Costings will need to be updated.....

vantage · Sep 5, 2021

Tarw Coch said:
Due to an abundance of silage I’ve combined my wheat that was destined for wholecrop, what are my options for feeding it to the cows? Mobile mill and mix is first though but what about caustic wheat, could I do that myself, how does it work? Any other options?

We fed a lot of caustic wheat/ soda grain years ago. I think we stopped because the price of caustic went off the scale.

More to life · Sep 5, 2021

caustic is probably a better feed but an epic faff, meal so much easier.

Boysground · Sep 5, 2021

Feed lots of caustic wheat here works very well, also get the mobile mill in occasionally to grind some.

Just don’t let the caustic sit in the mixer when you make it, will turn to concrete very quickly. It’s something you will only do once.

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Jamer · Sep 5, 2021

Milled is a bit “fizzy” and limits your feed level as a result. Caustic is a faff but a great rumen friendly feed allowing greater feed levels. Or you could roll it with urea and a hosepipe, sheet it and feed out in 6 weeks.

vantage · Sep 5, 2021

Boysground said:
Feed lots of caustic wheat here works very well, also get the mobile mill in occasionally to grind some.

Just don’t let the caustic sit in the mixer when you make it, will turn to concrete very quickly. It’s something you will only do once.

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Used to leave it a couple of hours to sit in the feeder, then turn tractor pto on again to mix and discharge. No lumps and no need to move and heap up.

DairyGrazing · Sep 5, 2021

vantage said:
Used to leave it a couple of hours to sit in the feeder, then turn tractor pto on again to mix and discharge. No lumps and no need to move and heap up.

Brave man!!!

Next door had to weld up a PTO shaft and put 300hp on it.

DairyGrazing · Sep 5, 2021

Tarw Coch said:
Due to an abundance of silage I’ve combined my wheat that was destined for wholecrop, what are my options for feeding it to the cows? Mobile mill and mix is first though but what about caustic wheat, could I do that myself, how does it work? Any other options?

I have tried alot of others but harbro maxammon or caustic feed the best in my experience. You can store the maxammon outside in a bale clamp if you are struggling for shed space.

The harbro treatment is dear at £38 but is comparable to caustic if you include the cost of your time diet feeder and handler.

vantage · Sep 5, 2021

DairyGrazing said:
Brave man!!!

Next door had to weld up a PTO shaft and put 300hp on it.

Key is definitely not to overlload the wagon, 4t dry wheat in a 14 cube Keenan, any more and you are asking for trouble!

Boysground · Sep 5, 2021

DairyGrazing said:
Brave man!!!

Next door had to weld up a PTO shaft and put 300hp on it.

I agree, had a shearbolt go on the current feeder. Had to break up most of the load by hand. Not the most exciting day I’ve had.

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Tarw Coch · Sep 5, 2021

DairyGrazing said:
I have tried alot of others but harbro maxammon or caustic feed the best in my experience. You can store the maxammon outside in a bale clamp if you are struggling for shed space.

The harbro treatment is dear at £38 but is comparable to caustic if you include the cost of your time diet feeder and handler.

What is Harbro treatment?

rusty · Sep 5, 2021

If you go down the caustic route be very careful handling it as it's quite nasty once it hits moisture.

In the pit · Sep 5, 2021

Tarw Coch said:
What is Harbro treatment?

Squidgy sweets that make your talk like a kid
Sorry that’s haribo

DairyGrazing · Sep 5, 2021

Tarw Coch said:
What is Harbro treatment?

Rolled wheat mixed with urea and an enzyme. Raises the pH so there is minimal risk at high feed rates.

Tarw Coch · Sep 5, 2021

DairyGrazing said:
Rolled wheat mixed with urea and an enzyme. Raises the pH so there is minimal risk at high feed rates.

Other than the enzyme, what’s the difference in the process to caustic wheat

I’m looking for an idiots guide as I have no knowledge or experience of any of these treatments

Jamer · Sep 5, 2021

Maxammon is same as Alkagrain is it not? Urea with a urease enzyme to hydrolyse the urea in dry wheat? The enzyme doesn’t half add to the price…..

Jamer · Sep 5, 2021

Caustic sloughs the husk off with chemical action. Urea/maxammon/alkagrain needs rolling to do the job of the caustic.

Tarw Coch · Sep 5, 2021

Jamer said:
Caustic sloughs the husk off with chemical action. Urea/maxammon/alkagrain needs rolling to do the job of the caustic.

So what does the urea do? Presumably add protein? Anything else? I can feed rolled wheat without it , so there must be some advantages

More to life · Sep 5, 2021

Tarw Coch said:
So what does the urea do? Presumably add protein? Anything else? I can feed rolled wheat without it , so there must be some advantages

Improves storage nothing to stop you adding urea to any tmr at time of mixing

Feeding wheat to cows.

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