What to feed R2’s

[Headless chicken]

Looking at ways to save money and still get some decent growth. R2’s are coming back for us to look after this winter giving us more options. As I’ve got some silage that’s gone to head it’s looking like well be chopping this as a straw substitute and once that’s run out theyll be on straw.

So 21% protein thinking blend just for cost and I can now take bulk loads.

Some of the prices seem to be insane considering wheat isn’t trading very high but the maize and soya are dragging the cost up.

Anyone got any suggestions. Keen to avoid PK where possible for ethical reasons. Would be keen to keep soya out if I could find a way but doubt we can.

 

[alan6430]

Is this a stupid question but what are r2’s?

 

[More to life]

Is this a stupid question but what are r2’s?

First name of a droid in a galaxy far far away

 

[Headless chicken]

Is this a stupid question but what are r2’s?

No question is stupid if you don’t know the answer. Rising 2’s.

I’m my case more specifically 14-15month olds - 19month olds

 

[Beef farmer]

Gluten&urea and straw

 

[Beef farmer]

Gluten should be 140s now?

 

[More to life]

Gluten should be 140s now?

Only it isn’t

 

[More to life]

@Headless chicken I thought you had a mountain of silage

 

[Headless chicken]

Gluten should be 140s now?

My mills can’t seem to get it for some reason. Maize gluten is like £220 apparently. If it’s that cheap then maybe it’s worth the extra haulage.

How happy were you with the mix with the urea? One mill rep was a bit worried incase it didn’t mix that well and it poisoned them all.

 

[Headless chicken]

@Headless chicken I thought you had a mountain of silage

I have indeed but that’s all at home and the R2’s are about 2 miles away and will have to
Be loose housed this year so I don’t want to wetter dung if I can help it.

 

[Blue.]

Looking at ways to save money and still get some decent growth. R2’s are coming back for us to look after this winter giving us more options. As I’ve got some silage that’s gone to head it’s looking like well be chopping this as a straw substitute and once that’s run out theyll be on straw.

So 21% protein thinking blend just for cost and I can now take bulk loads.

Some of the prices seem to be insane considering wheat isn’t trading very high but the maize and soya are dragging the cost up.

Anyone got any suggestions. Keen to avoid PK where possible for ethical reasons. Would be keen to keep soya out if I could find a way but doubt we can.

I’d be mixing silage with straw rather than using the silage 1st.

If you don’t use Pk some bugger else will! Circa £137 for November.

 

[pappuller]

I have indeed but that’s all at home and the R2’s are about 2 miles away and will have to
Be loose housed this year so I don’t want to wetter dung if I can help it.

Have you done a forage budget first off ? How short are you going to be ? Would rotaground straw/hay mixed with your silage not be the way to go and add some form of hard feed if needed ? As MTL mentioned I thought you were made away with fodder ?

 

[dinderleat]

Have you not got some grass you can make some bales and just stack at where your heifers are? Are they all incalf?

 

[happycows]

Regumaize 44%

 

[Dead Rabbits]

My mills can’t seem to get it for some reason. Maize gluten is like £220 apparently. If it’s that cheap then maybe it’s worth the extra haulage.

How happy were you with the mix with the urea? One mill rep was a bit worried incase it didn’t mix that well and it poisoned them all.

Woof. Corn gluten pellets $158 delivered right now.

 

[Jamer]

Regumaize 44%

Don't rely on it for growth. Used it last winter to keep forage back for milkers and I am still disappointed with those fed on regumaize last winter.

 

[Jamer]

You've got a mixer? I'd make up a forage/straw base but put something "decent" in to keep them growing. Got any cereals, rape etc?

 

[Ducati899]

First name of a droid in a galaxy far far away

They become R2D2’s once they calve yeah?

 

[dinderleat]

They become R2D2’s once they calve yeah?

No obviously not they would be known as BB-8

 

[Headless chicken]

Have you done a forage budget first off ? How short are you going to be ? Would rotaground straw/hay mixed with your silage not be the way to go and add some form of hard feed if needed ? As MTL mentioned I thought you were made away with fodder ?

Not really going down the cake and straw route to save forage I just find it works very well with no waste and suits our system.

Have you not got some grass you can make some bales and just stack at where your heifers are? Are they all incalf?

These will all Be bulling heifers sync and serve them all is the plan. Bales would be a real pain over there if I’m honest yard really isn’t set up for it.

You've got a mixer? I'd make up a forage/straw base but put something "decent" in to keep them growing. Got any cereals, rape etc?

I’ve got a mixer but again the farm is 2 miles of rough roads away. Much easier going to take the pickup everyday.

Wheat and rape might work though?