50:50 maize palm kernel

[Jdunn55]

Any issues with feeding this in the parlour? Just going to place my first load and don't want a disaster.

Palm kernel is screened
Feed rep has warned about possibly not being that appealing to cows (bitter) but doesn't think it should be too bad. Plus I know people on here that feed it almost ad-lib with no issues and cows still seem to go for it?

It'll have a bit of molasses in and I'm hoping with rolled maize it should still be fairly appetising?

It balances well on paper.

Also hoping the palm kernel will lift butterfat as well? Bit disappointed at the moment as its down to 4.3 average which isn't good enough, I am grazing quite a lot though (probably half their forage intake is from grazing)

 

[Blue.]

You won’t be able to feed many kg’s,it’ll be like eating sand.

 

[DairyNerd]

Your BF will be down to low DM in the grass, mine is exactly the same as yours at the moment. I shouldn't worry about that too much it will rise soon enough, get the grass into them. Are you happy with milk protein and litres?

We have put our first load of blend through the parlour, to be honest its been a bit of a disaster. Cows won't clear it even on 2kg a feed, heifers really don't want it at all, one cow is on complete strike . It seems pretty ground down almost to a dust, cows are way too loose and had two in the yard on hay overnight, bordering on sub-clinical acidosis is my guess. Got a load of cake to mix in with it coming tomorrow. Quite disappointed as it would have saved us about 20 a ton. Never mind. Cows are milking alright but I think condition is starting to suffer and you can't take chances at this time of year with Springs.

I would strip out the PK and add something more nutty.

 

[More to life]

I can't see them eating it

 

[Jdunn55]

You won’t be able to feed many kg’s,it’ll be like eating sand.

Your BF will be down to low DM in the grass, mine is exactly the same as yours at the moment. I shouldn't worry about that too much it will rise soon enough, get the grass into them. Are you happy with milk protein and litres?

We have put our first load of blend through the parlour, to be honest its been a bit of a disaster. Cows won't clear it even on 2kg a feed, heifers really don't want it at all, one cow is on complete strike . It seems pretty ground down almost to a dust, cows are way too loose and had two in the yard on hay overnight, bordering on sub-clinical acidosis is my guess. Got a load of cake to mix in with it coming tomorrow. Quite disappointed as it would have saved us about 20 a ton. Never mind. Cows are milking alright but I think condition is starting to suffer and you can't take chances at this time of year with Springs.

I would strip out the PK and add something more nutty.

Mine are used to eating dust, their blend is ground and they clear 5kg of that no problem, its just the palm kernel I've never dealt with.

What could I try instead? Wheat feed? Soya hulls?

 

[Jdunn55]

I can't see them eating it

Because of the palm kernel?

 

[deleted user 837354]

Can you not feed something a bit more palatable and useful that is more complete? Like maize gluten or something? What are you aiming to do with those two products combined? Palm kernel literally looks like sand with pieces of very hard rubber in it- obviously yours will be screened out though.

 

[Jdunn55]

Can you not feed something a bit more palatable and useful that is more complete? Like maize gluten or something? What are you aiming to do with those two products combined? Palm kernel literally looks like sand with pieces of very hard rubber in it- obviously yours will be screened out though.

I can feed anything

I liked the idea of maize + palm kernel because they combine nicely

Palm brings the protein and fibre
Maize brings the energy and digestibility

But obviously if they won't eat it, it's pointless. I'm open to suggestions.

I'm wanting something, highish in fibre, 13.5 me 16+% protein that cows will enjoy for £250ish/tonne

 

[More to life]

wheat gluten

 

[upnortheast]

Only tried PK once
Thought it was unpaletable shite
Maize Gluton is a good feed

 

[Jdunn55]

I've asked for a price for maize gluten

How much would you be happy feeding? I want something I can feed to a max of atleast 8kg but ideally 10kg

 

[sidjon]

We tried to feed pk in parlour and it will drive you mad, but I'll feed 50% maize or Maize gluten with 50% SBeet ,works for use but only feeding up to 5kg/day

 

[deleted user 837354]

Literally the only reason you would put PK into a ration is because it aids with cake manufacture (well, and it is low cost). It's not particularly digestible and I certainly would not view it as a fibre source, others may disagree.

 

[sidjon]

Literally the only reason you would put PK into a ration is because it aids with cake manufacture (well, and it is low cost). It's not particularly digestible and I certainly would not view it as a fibre source, others may disagree.

It's fine as a forage replacement and that's it , it's like feeding sawdust in the 80's, looks great on paper but not digestible

 

[deleted user 837354]

It's fine as a forage replacement and that's it , it's like feeding sawdust in the 80's, looks great on paper but not digestible

It makes you wonder how it really acts as a fibre source given quite how fine a lot of it is? I was under the impression it swells up if exposed to moisture?

 

[sidjon]

It makes you wonder how it really acts as a fibre source given quite how fine a lot of it is? I was under the impression it swells up if exposed to moisture?

Lots of it in there $hit which you can feel while your doing Ai, I know it has oil content but they are getting better at getting all the oil now, so reducing all the time, bit like Sbeet totally different feed then 20 yearsago

 

[Jdunn55]

I

Literally the only reason you would put PK into a ration is because it aids with cake manufacture (well, and it is low cost). It's not particularly digestible and I certainly would not view it as a fibre source, others may disagree.

I've been to farms feeding it as part of a tmr and they've had really good results from it

 

[Jdunn55]

Lots of it in there $hit which you can feel while your doing Ai, I know it has oil content but they are getting better at getting all the oil now, so reducing all the time, bit like Sbeet totally different feed then 20 yearsago

I've gone for maize gluten, soya hulls and possibly some rolled maize too asked him to come up with something. He's waiting for raw material prices

 

[sidjon]

I've gone for maize gluten, soya hulls and possibly some rolled maize too asked him to come up with something. He's waiting for raw material prices

Rolled maize is brilliant, just don't have it hammered as seems to cause acidosis iffeed in large amounts, so I've found

 

[Jdunn55]

Rolled maize is brilliant, just don't have it hammered as seems to cause acidosis iffeed in large amounts, so I've found

It would be probably 40% maize gluten, 30% maize and 30% soya hulls

I can probably get away with 12kg of that as nothing is very fizzy

So would work out to be 5kg maize gluten and 3.5kg each of maize and soya hulls to the top cows