Coarse mix or nuts for dairy x calves

[HarryB97]

Currently feed our calves on Heygates Maxigrow nuts and get on well with them. They are fed from the day they arrive till a few weeks past weaning. Always looking to try and improve performance and reduce costs which got me looking at Heygates coarse mix, anyone use a coarse mix rather than a nut or vice a versa?

 

[Woolless]

From my very limited experience of rearing three calves last winter, we fed coarse mix and they did really well on it but it was hideously expensive! Have you checked the price differential?

 

[Zippy768]

Currently feed our calves on Heygates Maxigrow nuts and get on well with them. They are fed from the day they arrive till a few weeks past weaning. Always looking to try and improve performance and reduce costs which got me looking at Heygates coarse mix, anyone use a coarse mix rather than a nut or vice a versa?

Do you not have the ability to mix your own coarse ration?
You put a few calves through IIRC

We dont use nuts at all. They are on the same coarse ration from rearing until selling

 

[HarryB97]

From my very limited experience of rearing three calves last winter, we fed coarse mix and they did really well on it but it was hideously expensive! Have you checked the price differential?

Not yet need to order the food and milk powder etc tomorrow

 

[HarryB97]

Do you not have the ability to mix your own coarse ration?
You put a few calves through IIRC

We dont use nuts at all. They are on the same coarse ration from rearing until selling

We have an auger bucket but the hassle of ordering small amounts of straights and storing them etc just for 40 calves at a time doesn't currently stack up. 2-4 weeks ater weaning we get them onto beef 16 by Berrystock feeds which we also feed to all the older cattle till they go.

 

[harperfarmer]

In my experience cattle do better on a nut than a coarse ration as they seem to sort and pick through the coarse mix but can't do the same with a nut/pellet. Is there any reason why they can't be placed on beef 16 to start with!? Or else buy their suckler 18 which is just the same just higher protein!?

 

[Colliepup123]

We used to feed nuts from the day they arrived until finishing. However, I had a few suckler twins inbetween batches of calves so just picked up a few bags of harpers top calf coarse mix. Intakes increased compared to my usual batches and their coats started shining, they seemed more content and I weaned earlier. (other factors for this of course not just feed). Ordered the coarse mix again on pallets in 25kg bags for my next batch of 50 BB X calves, wasn't any dearer than the nuts. On a larger scale the same applies, intakes have soared compared to usual, and calves are achieving high DLWG and looking particularly well. I move them on to nuts once weaned and out at grass, so tend to mix a few in with the coarse mix during the last few weeks on milk to help with adjustment. Taken us a while but you've just got to find what works best for your system, hope that helps

 

[Granite Farmer]

We used to feed nuts from the day they arrived until finishing. However, I had a few suckler twins inbetween batches of calves so just picked up a few bags of harpers top calf coarse mix. Intakes increased compared to my usual batches and their coats started shining, they seemed more content and I weaned earlier. (other factors for this of course not just feed). Ordered the coarse mix again on pallets in 25kg bags for my next batch of 50 BB X calves, wasn't any dearer than the nuts. On a larger scale the same applies, intakes have soared compared to usual, and calves are achieving high DLWG and looking particularly well. I move them on to nuts once weaned and out at grass, so tend to mix a few in with the coarse mix during the last few weeks on milk to help with adjustment. Taken us a while but you've just got to find what works best for your system, hope that helps

IMO Harpers make a good nut/coarse mix when I have reared calves in the past they have always gone for it more readily compared to competitor products. Just a shame the haulage cost kills it getting it to my neck of the woods.

 

[HarryB97]

In my experience cattle do better on a nut than a coarse ration as they seem to sort and pick through the coarse mix but can't do the same with a nut/pellet. Is there any reason why they can't be placed on beef 16 to start with!? Or else buy their suckler 18 which is just the same just higher protein!?

They could be on it from the start but with all the milk they are getting through as they're on ad lib it would turn into a wet mess in the feeders and bridge etc. As it's a very soft and damp food I think it would slow down rumen development? After weaning we do add oats to the beef 16 until 6/7 months old

 

[Mrfarmjunk]

Feed my own home mixed coarse ration. Far better feed intakes and growth rates than feeding a pellet/nut.
4 bags flaked maize
2 bags flaked peas
3 bags flaked soya
4 bags linseed lozenges
2 bags hi pro soya
1 bag minerals
Topped up with home grown rolled barley.

 

[HarryB97]

Feed my own home mixed coarse ration. Far better feed intakes and growth rates than feeding a pellet/nut.
4 bags flaked maize
2 bags flaked peas
3 bags flaked soya
4 bags linseed lozenges
2 bags hi pro soya
1 bag minerals
Topped up with home grown rolled barley.

Nice simple mix sounds do able where do you buy your bags of straights from?

 

[Zippy768]

Nice simple mix sounds do able where do you buy your bags of straights from?

Much simpler mix.
Bulk Soya;
Bulk Rapemeal;
Plenty of barley;
Dash of mins;
And a bit of sweetener to make it tasty

 

[Mrfarmjunk]

Nice simple mix sounds do able where do you buy your bags of straights from?

I add molasses to the mix too. I get my straights from RT feeds at York.

 

[Mrfarmjunk]

Much simpler mix.
Bulk Soya;
Bulk Rapemeal;
Plenty of barley;
Dash of mins;
And a bit of sweetener to make it tasty

Why rapemeal? It’s just a waste on calves.
Calves can’t digest rapemeal until they are 3 month old it just passes straight through them

 

[Wes H.]

A high-quality nut is better and more economical. Either starter (3mm) or 5mm pellet via a more trusted feed supplier. I’m an independent nutritionist/dairy farmer and have a specific nut made for clients and myself from a range of feed compounders across the UK.

 

[Whitepeak]

Personally it depends on what you are feeding post weaning. If you feed a nut post weaning, use a starter pellet or nut. If you feed a blend then use a coarse mix. This will help to maintain intakes and reduce any weaning check.

 

[Wolds Beef]

Formans at Theddlethorpe do a very good bean mix that they supply in anything fromm 20kg bags, half or tonne totes.
WB P.S. They call it there No.2 mix