Corn price rocketing

[Shann_mann]

With corn prices on the up even more now. After been quoted £290/ton for a General nut I’m thinking of cutting back on corn in my youngstock and replacing it with fodder beet. What are peoples thoughts on that and what are others trying to do?

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Last time corn went dear I tried all sorts too feed them cheaper. It ended up costing me more in the long run due too longer finishing times. Depends on the age of your stock and the end aim of course! If they are on plenty of forage a protein Mollasses might be better than FB due too the higher CP?

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

With corn prices on the up even more now. After been quoted £290/ton for a General nut I’m thinking of cutting back on corn in my youngstock and replacing it with fodder beet. What are peoples thoughts on that and what are others trying to do?

If you are only being quoted £290 then I would look closely at what is in the feed and possibly Fodder Beet might be better. Doubtful youngstock will grow very well on Fodder Beet though without some cereals.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Make sure you have plenty of straw !

 

[M-J-G]

It depends on if feeding it will cost you time and if you have that time to spare?

I've looked at all sorts of options for feeding, and as long as it does the job I generally come back to what's quickest and most convenient to feed.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

....it might just be a false economy to cut back on concentrates . You need to keep them growing .
Cattle only grow into money if you spend it on them .
Plenty of stores go through markets that would have benefited from having a few pounds spent on feed

 

[Flatlander]

At 290 a ton there will be some crap added to those nuts. Cheap feed is cheap for a reason.

 

[Shann_mann]

At 290 a ton there will be some crap added to those nuts. Cheap feed is cheap for a reason.

You reckon £290 is cheap then?

 

[Flatlander]

Depends on the price of barley and wheat. If they are both around the 220 a ton mark figure in protein minerals and processing plus feed mills cut with delivery and I’d think it’s either some serious filler being blended in or your getting a cracking deal. i used to supply a friend with grain that he hammered into animal feed. He was originally from Devon. Selling blended hammered feed he said wasn’t as profitable as pelleted because provided you have the right energy protein and minerals the rest could be fillers as in screenings from grain elevators and seed processors basically waste products. He wasn’t alone,I deliver all my wheat to a local feed mill that specializes in hog and chicken feed and often see loads of pelleted screening being delivered there.

 

[neilo]

You reckon £290 is cheap then?

No, it's not cheap, but it's cheaper than most on the market.

 

[aangus]

....it might just be a false economy to cut back on concentrates . You need to keep them growing .
Cattle only grow into money if you spend it on them .
Plenty of stores go through markets that would have benefited from having a few pounds spent on feed

They are the kind I like to buy some thing that has potential, the ones at 12 o’clock never do for me

 

[Timbo]

You reckon £290 is cheap then?

Very

 

[glasshouse]

They are the kind I like to buy some thing that has potential, the ones at 12 o’clock never do for me

What happens at 12 o clock?

 

[aangus]

What happens at 12 o clock?

Have you never heard of that saying?

 

[glasshouse]

Have you never heard of that saying?

No
I dont hang about cattle markets

 

[neilo]

What happens at 12 o clock?

It refers to stock that are shown at their very best, with only one way to go.

 

[HarryB97]

Be a false economy to slow youngstocks growth as they are the most efficient when they are young. An extra few months on farm when they are older with silage, bedding, and a higher chance of disease and mortality will cost you more. I’m currently paying 230ish for a 16% powdered blend tipped in bulk. The equivalent protein nut from a well known firm is around the price you are quoting.

 

[Timbo]

Be a false economy to slow youngstocks growth as they are the most efficient when they are young.

+1 youngstock have got to be allowed to do their very best potential and fed spot on if you want any hope of a good margin later on

 

[Whitepeak]

Can you feed a blend? We changed from a nut to a blend last summer and it saved us nearly £40 a tonne!

 

[Shann_mann]

Can you feed a blend? We changed from a nut to a blend last summer and it saved us nearly £40 a tonne!

That’s another option. But because I feed ewes on it as well im struggling to find a blend with minimal copper in it. We use a fattening blend and that’s £25 cheaper than the same nut.