What protein to mix with barley for growing cattle?

[FarmerK]

This question has probably been asked a million times on here and I apologise for this but what protein are you lads using to mix with your barley for growing cattle? Just trying to make things as simple as possible. Cheers

 

[beefandsleep]

If I can’t grow it myself, ie beans/clover then the lowest cost/kg of protein, this is usually rape meal but sometimes wheat or maize distillers.

 

[davidroberts30]

25kgs per ton of urea

 

[Samcowman]

What have you got on farm. Ideally high protein silage. But we struggle to make that so they get beans with it then rapemeal when beans are finished.

 

[beefandsleep]

Yes, urea is a cost effective option but I have always preferred to feed true proteins and believe them to be better overall in the diet. With rapemeal or distillers for example you are also getting another energy source in the form of oils, and fibre which is important for rumen health and stability.

 

[FarmerK]

25kgs per ton of urea

Do you rate urea?

 

[Blaithin]

Feedlots here feed straight barley or wheat. Only the odd one has access to DDGs.

 

[davidroberts30]

Do you rate urea?

It's ok if you just need a bit
I wouldnt count on it for a large hit of protein

 

[Full of bull(s)]

This question has probably been asked a million times on here and I apologise for this but what protein are you lads using to mix with your barley for growing cattle? Just trying to make things as simple as possible. Cheers

It depends, steers heifers or bulls, and how hard are you trying to push them?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Depends what age but maize gluton is a good help depending on price , but the aswer is that realy you have to do price match on whats available

 

[FarmerK]

It depends, steers heifers or bulls, and how hard are you trying to push them?

They’ll be bulls or steers out of dairy cows. In the past I’ve just ticked them over and sold them as stores but I’m just wanting to experiment a little more this year and try other options.
I’m just trying to gather information to be honest. Want to find a cheap way of feeding them but a way that is also simple as I don’t have the recourses such as a mixer wagon etc. Any information or advice would be amazing

 

[RAF]

There’s no cheap way off feeding bulls
Fact

 

[Agrivator]

500 gms/day of Soyabean meal at 18p, would replace 500 gms of rolled barley at 7p.

The extra 11p/day would be more than recouped in improved performance. And after a while, you could up it to 750gms daily.

One of the most apt sayings is: ''don't spoil the ship for a h'peth of tar''.

 

[Fergieman]

Barley and Hi Pro soya is a simple mix although can be dusty so rapemeal may be a better option. Any of the above could be used at different ratio's for the protein level required. How are you mixing it? meal mixer or forklift bucket?

 

[davidroberts30]

500 gms/day of Soyabean meal at 18p, would replace 500 gms of rolled barley at 7p.

The extra 11p/day would be more than recouped in improved performance. And after a while, you could up it to 750gms daily.

One of the most apt sayings is: ''don't spoil the ship for a h'peth of tar''.

Urea works out here at 4p/head/day
Lifts barley from 12 to 15% P

 

[Full of bull(s)]

500 gms/day of Soyabean meal at 18p, would replace 500 gms of rolled barley at 7p.

The extra 11p/day would be more than recouped in improved performance. And after a while, you could up it to 750gms daily.

One of the most apt sayings is: ''don't spoil the ship for a h'peth of tar''.

I was feeding hipro and it seems to work for the b/w bulls but I just wasn’t happy with the continental steers somehow. Anyway tried a good quality compound concentrate, main ingredient being hipro but also rape, distillers, sunflower etc and it seems to be working better, even on the bulls. By the time I previously bought a mineral, the concentrate only works out at £3/tonne dearer per finished tonne. Cheaper not always better, I think a variety of degradability of proteins seemed to be the solution.

 

[Full of bull(s)]

Urea works out here at 4p/head/day
Lifts barley from 12 to 15% P

Where do you get 12% barley from? 8-10% is how it usually tests depending on the year

 

[Bossfarmer]

If I can’t grow it myself, ie beans/clover then the lowest cost/kg of protein, this is usually rape meal but sometimes wheat or maize distillers.

Do you make silage from clover? I heard it doesnt ensile well?

 

[davidroberts30]

Where do you get 12% barley from? 8-10% is how it usually tests depending on the year

Ok, just every example of barley says 12%

I've never had any tested

 

[Bossfarmer]

What have you got on farm. Ideally high protein silage. But we struggle to make that so they get beans with it then rapemeal when beans are finished.

How do you go about making high protein silage?