what price have you contracted at?

[Jdunn55]

Was thinking ahead to getting youngstock out (May 1st usually) after the sun came out yesterday for the first time in months.

Usually replacement heifers get 1-2kg 18% rearer nut while at grass to keep them going, which is currently £280/ton ish.

I can get barley delivered for £165/ton plus £10/ton to get it bruised. Is it worth considering this as an alternative? I could get something to mix it with blown into the rearer feed bin if needed. But I wouldn't actually be mixing them as we don't have the time or facilities to make a mix, I would just feed a bit of both in a trough in the field.

If I was extending this to the beef stores as well, could be using 6 ton a month, so bit of a saving to be had.

Same plan as me

In my head if they've got good grazing they really don't need any protein so I would be feeding straight cereal

I'm probably going to feed a kg to heifers unless grass gets short and increase it as needed

Maybe do 2 kg for anything under 6/9 months that's at grass

 

[TheRanger]

Same plan as me

In my head if they've got good grazing they really don't need any protein so I would be feeding straight cereal

I'm probably going to feed a kg to heifers unless grass gets short and increase it as needed

Maybe do 2 kg for anything under 6/9 months that's at grass

I have looked at doing it the last few years, but the price differential between cereals and compound is higher than ever at the moment.

Had a nutritionist/rep who talked me out of it last year, said they wouldn't do as well. And to be fair they weren't selling either the barley or the nuts so didn't have a vested interest.

 

[DairyNerd]

Got first load of blend blown in feed loft this morning, see how it goes. Managed to get it down to £261 by shopping around. Only a 5T load this time. Hopefully might drop further in the summer, just paying load at a time for now.

 

[Conrod96]

Was thinking ahead to getting youngstock out (May 1st usually) after the sun came out yesterday for the first time in months.

Usually replacement heifers get 1-2kg 18% rearer nut while at grass to keep them going, which is currently £280/ton ish.

I can get barley delivered for £165/ton plus £10/ton to get it bruised. Is it worth considering this as an alternative? I could get something to mix it with blown into the rearer feed bin if needed. But I wouldn't actually be mixing them as we don't have the time or facilities to make a mix, I would just feed a bit of both in a trough in the field.

If I was extending this to the beef stores as well, could be using 6 ton a month, so bit of a saving to be had.

Do they really need anything while they are at grass?