Feeding fresh harvested barley

[czechmate]

We ran out of cereals before harvest and so were buying grain which was painful.
Hence, when we cut the barley, it was very ripe and 9%, I started to utilise it straight away.
About 10 days after starting on the new crop, we had a fattening bull die from kidney failure. Is this a coincidence or quite likely caused by the fresh barley? We don't only feed barley but it makes about half of the ration. Bulls are add lib. This one was 550 kg.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

You can't feed new barley ad lib if they've been on ad lib old crop they'll get barley poisoning

 

[Zippy768]

You can't feed new barley ad lib if they've been on ad lib old crop they'll get barley poisoning

What's the science behind this? We are in the same position as @czechmate. When does new become old?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

What's the science behind this? We are in the same position as @czechmate. When does new become old?

I don't know the time scales....just set them off onto new crop slowly then build them up and you'll have no problems

 

[bobk]

You can't feed new barley ad lib if they've been on ad lib old crop they'll get barley poisoning

I didn't know that .

 

[Zippy768]

I don't know the time scales....just set them off onto new crop slowly then build them up and you'll have no problems

Thanks for the warning. Todays job was to crimp and mix a load of grub. I'll have to dig out the remaining old crop.

 

[Bob the beef]

It's along the same line as feeding new hay to horses. Higher starch levels and increased amino acids I think. All settles down within couple of months of harvesting

 

[czechmate]

You can't feed new barley ad lib if they've been on ad lib old crop they'll get barley poisoning

What is barley poisoning?
I would understand if it had got bloat but the kidney failure?
The vet didn't seem to think it was related but then Comunication isn't all it could be.
It was 1 out of 40 odd, some 2 or 3 weeks ago now, so hopefully I can carry on. 6 more have died since but I think that was more to do with going to the abbatoir

 

[Northeastfarmer]

What is barley poisoning?

You ever been p!ssed?

 

[czechmate]

You ever been p!ssed?

No

 

[Zippy768]

6 more have died since

My heart stopped beating for a second when I read that

 

[Northeastfarmer]

No

Well it's like that but 20 times worse

 

[Zippy768]

Well it's like that but 20 times worse

Like the time you go to the pub and have an absolute skin full, and then you die

 

[Northeastfarmer]

What is barley poisoning?
I would understand if it had got bloat but the kidney failure?
The vet didn't seem to think it was related but then Comunication isn't all it could be.
It was 1 out of 40 odd, some 2 or 3 weeks ago now, so hopefully I can carry on. 6 more have died since but I think that was more to do with going to the abbatoir

If you've lost 6 I'd be getting a PM done that's a horrendous loss

 

[bobk]

Ad lib feeding fact..... 20% eat 80% of what's on offer.

 

[jamesy]

If you've lost 6 I'd be getting a PM done that's a horrendous loss

I'd re-read to get what he meant!

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I'd re-read to get what he meant!

I know what he meant....I've sent plenty of cattle to the abattoir and never known one die due to the fact they were going there...

 

[yellowbelly]

I know the OP couldn't do this because he'd run out but IMHO the best way to get them on to new crop barley is to mix it with old crop, say20%NC to 80%OC for 3 or 4 days and then 40%NC to 60%OC for 3or 4 more and keep gradually building it up until they are on 100% in about a fortnight.

One of the golden rules of feeding (anything, not just barley) is to introduce any changes GRADUALLY.

 

[beefandsleep]

Never had a problem here. I've also had many deaths due to the abattoir czmate [emoji6]

 

[J 1177]

Iv just had new barley milled today. Cut 10 days ago. I just generally top the hoppers up with it and let it mix with the last of the old crop as it runs down.