Barley wholecrop or processed grain for finishing stock?

[HarryB97]

Currently finish no stock ourselves but are going to start finishing the lot, all dairy steers taken to 700+ kg liveweight. Alongside dairy quality silage would I be better off with wholecrop or rolled/crimp barley? I imagine i'd need to feed a fair bit more wholecrop due to the straw content and it takes away the option of selling the grain and having straw for bedding. Would be a nice early entry into grass or roots though.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

You’d be better off selling them as calves....nothings as dear as calves in comparison

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Crimp .if you cant grow maize

 

[hendrebc]

Crimp. Always found wholecrop to be an overrated feed.

 

[michael N123]

Crimp it

 

[Zippy768]

Crimp.
A crimper is one of the best paying machines we have ever purchased

 

[michael N123]

Crimp.
A crimper is one of the best paying machines we have ever purchased

If you combine the lot in one go it’s hardly worth buying one a neighbour/contractor crimps all mine in half a day with a massive crusher

 

[Zippy768]

If you combine the lot in one go it’s hardly worth buying one a neighbour/contractor crimps all mine in half a day with a massive crusher

We don't combine it early. Combined when fit. Stored as a whole grain and crimped as required straight into feeder wagon for 4 ton concentrate mix.
Saving on propcorn.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

We don't combine it early. Combined when fit. Stored as a whole grain and crimped as required straight into feeder wagon for 4 ton concentrate mix.
Saving on propcorn.

Crimp dont use propcorn does it, thought the idea of Crimping was to do it early so grain was more digestible

 

[Zippy768]

Crimp dont use propcorn does it, thought the idea of Crimping was to do it early so grain was more digestible

Yes, the higher moisture content does make it more digestible. The propcorn applied will help with storage of the higher moisture grain.

Personally we harvest and store @ <16%.

 

[Agrivator]

Currently finish no stock ourselves but are going to start finishing the lot, all dairy steers taken to 700+ kg liveweight. Alongside dairy quality silage would I be better off with wholecrop or rolled/crimp barley? I imagine i'd need to feed a fair bit more wholecrop due to the straw content and it takes away the option of selling the grain and having straw for bedding. Would be a nice early entry into grass or roots though.

If you analyse the silage and buy in a good quality beef nut to suit, there would be three advantages to compensate for the obvious expense of supporting a compounder,

1. It would be far more convenient and predictable.

2. You can concentrate on growing grain of malting or milling quality and still have dry straw for bedding and a bit for feeding.

3. If you decide to sell cattle earlier, you don't need to order that last load of cake.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Do you have a silage clamp, pit or the ability to handle and store grain dry?

Do you need the straw?

What other forage can you grow to supplement the crimp?

I have known people feed wholecrop to beef but they supplemented with some grass silage.

Avoid dry grain if you dont have a grain store. Dust is a pita and crimp is far kinder on their guts.

Forager is a lot more flexible than combining and that bit earlier.

 

[jonnyjon]

Made wholecrop wheat for the first time last year, found it to be super feed. Having tried most types of feed storage, crimp or wholecrop is the best IMO, fully mature grain or straw is not the best for feeding due to lignin of the grain/ straw coating

 

[deleted user 837354]

Made wholecrop wheat for the first time last year, found it to be super feed. Having tried most types of feed storage, crimp or wholecrop is the best IMO, fully mature grain or straw is not the best for feeding due to lignin of the grain/ straw coating

I had clients who cut when the crop was green and they found it was fantastic for their dairy cattle. I think the gain in starch but cutting late begins to get offset by the decline in overall digestibility.

 

[HarryB97]

You’d be better off selling them as calves....nothings as dear as calves in comparison

We buy them all in so sadly not an option!

 

[HarryB97]

Crimp it is then! want to avoid maize as we're on heavy land

 

[Bury the Trash]

Do you have a silage clamp, pit or the ability to handle and store grain dry?

Do you need the straw?

What other forage can you grow to supplement the crimp?

I have known people feed wholecrop to beef but they supplemented with some grass silage.

Avoid dry grain if you dont have a grain store. Dust is a pita and crimp is far kinder on their guts.

Forager is a lot more flexible than combining and that bit earlier.

Not exactly dry grain but alkagrain is bettere for the guts than proper dry grain....., and crimped .
So me of these thread s seem to go round and round seems cant peopke make there own decisions or experi ment for them selves anylonger

 

[deleted user 837354]

Not exactly dry grain but alkagrain is bettere for the guts than proper dry grain....., and crimped .
So me of these thread s seem to go round and round seems cant peopke make there own decisions or experi ment for them selves anylonger

The alkagrain/caustic option did not even enter my mind when I was on this thread the other day, but you are right, caustic or even urea treated wheat would mean no dust, kinder on their guts, easier to store and more tolerant of moisture content. As an aside, rats and other vermin hate it.

 

[Bury the Trash]

The alkagrain/caustic option did not even enter my mind when I was on this thread the other day, but you are right, caustic or even urea treated wheat would mean no dust, kinder on their guts, easier to store and more tolerant of moisture content. As an aside, rats and other vermin hate it.

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/crimping-green-straw-worth-the-extra-cost.284498/

 

[Zippy768]

The alkagrain/caustic option did not even enter my mind when I was on this thread the other day, but you are right, caustic or even urea treated wheat would mean no dust, kinder on their guts, easier to store and more tolerant of moisture content. As an aside, rats and other vermin hate it.

Don't know alot about Alkagrain but the OP wants to be steering clear of caustic imo. Expensive and dangerous to handle and have hanging around. Water rates, caustic rates, mixing time, cooling time - ok a few mixes but soon gets boring.
If dust is a problem - unlikely a massive issue with crimp - chucked a little molasses in. Sweetens the mix especially for younger cattle