Maize grain

[Downton_shep]

Anyone any experience feeding maize grain to sheep?
The keepers combined there cover crops today and have a fair bit spare!

 

[Boysground]

Be careful of fusarium in the maize.

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[digger64]

[QUOTEpopcorn ound, post: 5979502, member: 610"]Be careful of fusarium in the maize.

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Would propcorn solve that problem ?

 

[Boysground]

Think it probably would but ask someone who knows more about it than me.

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[Bury the Trash]

[QUOTEpopcorn ound, post: 5979502, member: 610"]Be careful of fusarium in the maize.

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Would propcorn solve that problem ?[/QUOTE]
No it wont.

is it nice and dry ...

Trouble is its so late .for harvested.

other than that of course its really good feed.. and could feed it whole but go easy to start and feed to fatteners only to be safe

 

[Green farmer]

Also interested in hearing opinions of maize inclusions in sheep rations and feeds. Ground maize meal is well priced at the moment. Cheaper then barley with less risk of acidosis

 

[ollie989898]

Are you going to crimp it? It is a lot easier doing that than trying to dry it as you can put it in the silage pit.

Harvest is late, that is the main problem. You don't need to let it go too dry, you could cut it with a forager using a picker header and ensile it. Also a forager is a lot handier in the mud than a combine.

 

[Downton_shep]

All cut and in the grain store now. Got about 80 tonnes of it.
Still not sure if it’s worth the risk feeding to the sheep

 

[Green farmer]

Any update feeding ground maize meal to sheep ? Either outwintered ewes or store lambs. What would the maximum inclusion rates in a diet be ?

 

[Nithsdale]

Any update feeding ground maize meal to sheep ? Either outwintered ewes or store lambs. What would the maximum inclusion rates in a diet be ?

Aye, fine. Crack on - they should do well on it

 

[Nithsdale]

View attachment 767768 All cut and in the grain store now. Got about 80 tonnes of it.
Still not sure if it’s worth the risk feeding to the sheep

You get flaked maize in feed and it's good... how hard are they? At worst get someone in to roll them?

 

[Green farmer]

This is the stuff I'm referring to, anyone feed them straight like this and what inclusion rates?

 

[Downton_shep]

You get flaked maize in feed and it's good... how hard are they? At worst get someone in to roll them?

This was a couple years ago now. Was a bit worried about feeding it to inlamb ewes so ended up being sold to go in a digester.

 

[Farmer Roy]

View attachment 767768 All cut and in the grain store now. Got about 80 tonnes of it.
Still not sure if it’s worth the risk feeding to the sheep

Corn ( maize ) is a very popular sheep drought / supplement feed here. It’s just dribbled in the ground in a long line. High energy & the large size makes it easy for them to eat off the ground. No problem at all feeding it to them.
They don’t need much though. A mate of mine always used to claim a matchbox full of corn would keep a merino wether alive for a day. I don’t know how accurate that is ?

Don’t you have a local Department of Agriculture or something similar you can ask ? Ours publish endless amounts of information on stuff like that

 

[Nithsdale]

This was a couple years ago now. Was a bit worried about feeding it to inlamb ewes so ended up being sold to go in a digester.

Aye I didn't notice the date of your posts... just read the thread when the newest reply came up.

Ground maize is good feed though - same as distillers maize grains, but you're cutting out the distilling and pelleting steps

 

[Green farmer]

Corn ( maize ) is a very popular sheep drought / supplement feed here.
They don’t need much though. A mate of mine always used to claim a matchbox full of corn would keep a merino wether alive for a day.

I've heard of lads finishing lambs on barley down the years, but dont know many who finish them of maize, so that's why I'm asking the question. it has a higher energy value then barley, is meant to be safer to feed and can be bought cheaper. I see the more expensive finishing rations all have a high maize quantity.

 

[Farmer Roy]

I've heard of lads finishing lambs on barley down the years, but dont know many who finish them of maize, so that's why I'm asking the question.

im guessing that’s because there is a lot more barley in the UK than maize ?

I am surprised it’s cheaper than barley, not the case here

 

[Nithsdale]

I've heard of lads finishing lambs on barley down the years, but dont know many who finish them of maize, so that's why I'm asking the question. it has a higher energy value then barley, is meant to be safer to feed and can be bought cheaper. I see the more expensive finishing rations all have a high maize quantity.

Maize (distillers) grains are a staple of all our rations. We use it as the primary source of protein for all sheep, fat lambs and the store cattle (to grow them on before sale as forward stores). It is by far the best straight you can buy

 

[Farmer Roy]

where does the bulk of UK corn / maize grain come from ?
France, or further ?

i wouldnt have thought much would be grown in the UK ?

 

[Green farmer]

im guessing that’s because there is a lot more barley in the UK than maize ?

I am surprised it’s cheaper than barley, not the case here

I'm only small scale, hobby sized really, but yes, slightly cheaper then barley and about 25% cheaper then lamb rations, which can have cheap filler in them.