My family used to. Grandpa had a hammer mill set up to dump into a grainery.
We would grind a mix of wheat, barley, milo and alfalfa. Shoveling and couple tons of grain twice in a day was a real workout. Especially since I was 9 when Dad and Grandpa put a scoop in my hands.
I dont have anything pertinent to add to your discussion Buffy. It just brought back fond memories.
I am afraid we forget sometime that the basic and simple things brings us the most pleasure.
Dad 5-31-13
Most cattle around here are grass fed supplemented with range cubes after the grass goes rank. Most folks put up brome and other prairie hay during the year...
Sharps Model 1874 - "The rifle that made the west safe for Winchester"
Aren't cattle supposed to feed on grass? Corn feed is just for finishing and isn't really good for them?
"A patriot is mocked, scorned and hated; yet when his cause succeeds, all men will join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
Long time ago used to grow corn and make silage out of it. Put it in a concrete floored pit silo with concrete block walls on three sides. Lot of work putting it in, and lot of work getting it out. It was fed in the winter to supplement the hay.
Big Dan, corn and cottonseed meal is fed to feedlot cattle along with hay to put marbled fat on the carcass. They don't get any exercise in a feedlot so the food goes mostly to fat. If they don't have hay/grass to make a cud the corn and other grain shoots through them like they had a straight pipe from mouth to starfish.
“I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer” ― Douglas Adams
There are empty silage pits all over the place around here....seems most every old homestead has one. To the best of my knowledge, there is one guy in the county that still puts up silage...
Sharps Model 1874 - "The rifle that made the west safe for Winchester"
There are empty silage pits all over the place around here....seems most every old homestead has one. To the best of my knowledge, there is one guy in the county that still puts up silage...
In area, not all that far from you Jayhawker, there are quite a few abandoned silage silos. A few pits but mostly people used silos. Brick or concrete. There are two or three guys still feeding silage in my county.
I am afraid we forget sometime that the basic and simple things brings us the most pleasure.
Dad 5-31-13
Only silage put up in my area is on dairy farms. Both concrete and steel ones, and a few pit silos. Nobody else puts the stuff up; too much work and equipment cost to justify it.
“I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer” ― Douglas Adams
I grind grits and cornmeal out of two old heirloom varieties of corn that we grow down in the north-central Florida cattle country. These two varieties go back generations, and generally what my rancher friends do is turn the cattle in on the dried corn in the fields along about February when grass and other forage is depleted. Cows will eat the corn grains, cobs and shucks totally. But I'm talking about old "Cracker Cows", the variety that has been down here for way over a hundred years, and not any of the modern varieties.
In our area all the farmers I know farm 1000 or more acres and raise cattle so they all have their own grain but have never asked if they feed it to their cattle.
Just called a friend and asked him and he said that he figures about 90% of the farmers around here feed their own grain, most of them have large pastures or lease pasture for the warm weather and put up their own hay.
I don't perosnally but my job pretty much revolves around feeding cattle. I can answer questions
What we're looking to do is grow our own corn (and possibly soybean later) to keep from getting raped at the feed store. We get a bulk discount but even with corn at record low levels per bushel, we're still not seeing the price drop here in south east GA. I know farmers in North Alabama personally, and they have bins FULL of corn that they can't/won't sell because they would lose their butts.
But we're still getting raped. So I'm looking into planting my own. The only thing I have at this point is plenty of acreage to do it, and tractors to pull equipment. I've called a local feed mill to ask the hows/when/whys about them grinding our feed and so far the money seems to be working in our favor to grow our own.
Do you guys grow your own corn/soy? Do you buy cotton seed mill and the other minerals? What are you storing processed feed in?
I grind grits and cornmeal out of two old heirloom varieties of corn that we grow down in the north-central Florida cattle country. These two varieties go back generations, and generally what my rancher friends do is turn the cattle in on the dried corn in the fields along about February when grass and other forage is depleted. Cows will eat the corn grains, cobs and shucks totally. But I'm talking about old "Cracker Cows", the variety that has been down here for way over a hundred years, and not any of the modern varieties.
And I'm still interested in planting some acreage in heirloom corn, Rich. I plan on getting some equipment this winter. Got some planters but don't have a harvester. Also don't have a grain bin but know there's a bunch of them not being used around here.
Are these cows or are you feeding these cattle out? What are you paying for a bushel of corn? What is the price. Of hay currently? All my customers mostly feed what they grow but my answers will depend on what type of cattle we are talking about
While this is true, the actual corn kernels are not a cows primary diet. It is my understanding that when feeding cattle for finishing, a corn based diet for more than 3 months is so unhealthy they require antibiotics and can die.
Yes it fattens them up. I personally don't want to eat corn finished beef.
D
"A patriot is mocked, scorned and hated; yet when his cause succeeds, all men will join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
I grind grits and cornmeal out of two old heirloom varieties of corn that we grow down in the north-central Florida cattle country.
Don't forget me Rich! My emergency cornmeal stash is gone and I will be damned if I ever buy that crap from the store again. Besides, you need the freezer space.
We grew some of the Indian corn this year and have 2 ears that did particularly well up here. Those will get planted next year. It will be at least a year before I can make my own. I will keep doing the Darwin thing with the corn every year and after a few years, should have a strong northern variety of it.
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
Both. We have a small herd of Hereford's (20) that we supplement and feed out the calves. I don't know about per bushel of corn because we have been buying premixed feed up till this point. Our price per ton is approx $450.
Not to mention I raise about 20-30 feeder pigs per year. I know the mix would be different but at least having corn would help with them. I pay more for hog feed then my daddy does for cow feed.
Hay, we paid $45 or so per 800 lb roll. I think. Have a text in to my dad to verify.
While this is true, the actual corn kernels are not a cows primary diet. It is my understanding that when feeding cattle for finishing, a corn based diet for more than 3 months is so unhealthy they require antibiotics and can die.
Yes it fattens them up. I personally don't want to eat corn finished beef.
If feeding corn caused cattle to die, there would be hardly any beef around! Most of the cattle in Feedyards are fed corn at weaning or soon thereafter, some even before weaning. Corn is not unhealthy, where cattle can have problems when feeding corn is too feed too much and not enough fiber. Cattle in Feedyards are still ruminants and need enough fiber to chew their cud, if there isn't enough fiber they get upset tummies!! Feeding grass only to cattle will take a much longer time to finish than a steer on corn, therefore corn is fed to speed up the process. The less time it takes to finish a steer the quicker the farmer gets paid. In the upper Midwest corn is plentiful and abundant and a better more efficient way to feed cattle.
If you could look up a used tub grinder, you can grind your own grain for feed .that is what my father in law uses to produce the feed for his cows. How do you store your bulk feed?
Both. We have a small herd of Hereford's (20) that we supplement and feed out the calves. I don't know about per bushel of corn because we have been buying premixed feed up till this point. Our price per ton is approx $450.
Not to mention I raise about 20-30 feeder pigs per year. I know the mix would be different but at least having corn would help with them. I pay more for hog feed then my daddy does for cow feed.
Hay, we paid $45 or so per 800 lb roll. I think. Have a text in to my dad to verify.
Any idea what's in the premixed up feed? Take a picture of the tag for me.
Aren't cattle supposed to feed on grass? Corn feed is just for finishing and isn't really good for them?
As others have said, no. Grass is to build the skeleton or frame first, feed packs on the muscle and fat. You don't waste feed that first year just to grow them.
This pasture feed only beef marketing thing is a marketing gimmick, like most. It makes the buyer feel better. Doesn't better the meat in any way. Know why it's so much more expensive? Because it takes longer to grow the cow.
I have grown my own hog feed and grow some of my cattle feed. I am not saying that you can't do it but there is more to it than it might sound. If you can grow corn in your area that will be good but you will need machinery to plant, spray, harvest and transport. Do they grow milo in your area? If you could find an area farmer to hire some of this done it would be a way to start and see how much you want to do. If you can find a grinder mixer in your area it would be a great way to get started without spending much, they are cheap around here, not many people using them. I will pm you my phone number and I can help you, well at least give you things to think about. Whoever said that corn will kill cattle without antibiotics is full of male bovine fecal matter. Many years ago before we lost all of the packing houses I feed cattle. You have to start slowly with the grain but at the last I was feeding a ration that was 90% grain and I did not feed antibiotics. As for grass fed you can eat them if you want but I will take a grain fed.
A good friend of mine has 100+ head of registered black Angus, and grows all of the alfalfa and corn that they eat. He does very well. He also works with me, 50-60 hours a week. The key is, a grinder. He grinds all of the feed they eat, hay included, year round. He adds more and more corn at finishing time. The point is, every bite they eat is the same. Same alfalfa/corn mix, plus natural mineral supplements he buys.
His beef is awesome, I rarely eat a steak at a restaurant, I know I have better beef at home.
You really have to set down and do the math on that feed growing deal. Fuel costs, after you get the machinery bought, then the seed, fertilizer, and don't forget the combine....
Basically if you can grow enough to feed your calves out, and sell enough to pay for the cost of production you'll do fine. But the weather and all manner of things can disrupt your best laid plans in one short hail storm.
For the number of head your running, growing your own hay is a good thing to do, do a good enough job on putting the hay up, so you can sell some high quality "horse" hay to pay for the hay you are feeding.
Buying the grain will likely come in below the cost of producing it. Other wise your friends with the graineries full would be dumping those to get some cash flow.
When the FOOD Nazis (Same family as Bunny And Tree Huggers got involved they about killed the beef industry for a while. They're the same libtards that want to limit the size of a coke you can buy in New York or throw all smokers under the Bus or who come up with gun control. They don't realize this is America land of the free and we DO last time I checked have a constitution, so where do these idiots get off trying to govern what I can eat or if I smoke. Now I don't smoke and it's sort of brainless to do so in my opinion, but I don't want some Libtard telling me I can't. Now you can tell me you don't want me doing it in your restaurant and I have to honor your wishes. And these are the same idiots that tell us to eat that Tasteless grass fed beef. Corn or grain finished beef is the deal with most people. Grass Fed beef just sucks in my opinion. Give me grain fed and preferably Corn!
Daddy, what's an enabler?
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Floor sweepin's with some mineral added.
Look for some place where you can get some whole oats, and cracked corn in bulk.(buying feed in 50 lb bags is a good way to spend a lot of money for not much feed) Give the calves about 3 lbs of each grain and all the hay they can eat, they'll put the grow on.
Planting a 10 acre patch of oats might work out right well, if you hay it just about the time it goes into the dough, the grain will go ahead and form and then you feed that hay to the calves with some cracked corn sprinkled on and watch the little buggers bloom. By haying it early like that if you get decent moisture you should get a second growth that you can then either hay again or combine for the grain.
I supplement the cows hay and grazing during the winter months with 3 lbs. each, 20 % range cubes, and they usually make the 4 months in fine shape.
You can also feed cows, calves and feeders whole corn, and their stomach's will absorb the majority of the good stuff from the grain.
Replies
We would grind a mix of wheat, barley, milo and alfalfa. Shoveling and couple tons of grain twice in a day was a real workout. Especially since I was 9 when Dad and Grandpa put a scoop in my hands.
I dont have anything pertinent to add to your discussion Buffy. It just brought back fond memories.
Dad 5-31-13
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
Big Dan, corn and cottonseed meal is fed to feedlot cattle along with hay to put marbled fat on the carcass. They don't get any exercise in a feedlot so the food goes mostly to fat. If they don't have hay/grass to make a cud the corn and other grain shoots through them like they had a straight pipe from mouth to starfish.
― Douglas Adams
In area, not all that far from you Jayhawker, there are quite a few abandoned silage silos. A few pits but mostly people used silos. Brick or concrete. There are two or three guys still feeding silage in my county.
Dad 5-31-13
― Douglas Adams
I don't perosnally but my job pretty much revolves around feeding cattle. I can answer questions
Corn/maize is a grass
Just called a friend and asked him and he said that he figures about 90% of the farmers around here feed their own grain, most of them have large pastures or lease pasture for the warm weather and put up their own hay.
What we're looking to do is grow our own corn (and possibly soybean later) to keep from getting raped at the feed store. We get a bulk discount but even with corn at record low levels per bushel, we're still not seeing the price drop here in south east GA. I know farmers in North Alabama personally, and they have bins FULL of corn that they can't/won't sell because they would lose their butts.
But we're still getting raped. So I'm looking into planting my own. The only thing I have at this point is plenty of acreage to do it, and tractors to pull equipment. I've called a local feed mill to ask the hows/when/whys about them grinding our feed and so far the money seems to be working in our favor to grow our own.
Do you guys grow your own corn/soy? Do you buy cotton seed mill and the other minerals? What are you storing processed feed in?
And I'm still interested in planting some acreage in heirloom corn, Rich. I plan on getting some equipment this winter. Got some planters but don't have a harvester. Also don't have a grain bin but know there's a bunch of them not being used around here.
Feel free to pm me if you want
While this is true, the actual corn kernels are not a cows primary diet. It is my understanding that when feeding cattle for finishing, a corn based diet for more than 3 months is so unhealthy they require antibiotics and can die.
Yes it fattens them up. I personally don't want to eat corn finished beef.
D
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
We grew some of the Indian corn this year and have 2 ears that did particularly well up here. Those will get planted next year. It will be at least a year before I can make my own. I will keep doing the Darwin thing with the corn every year and after a few years, should have a strong northern variety of it.
Not to mention I raise about 20-30 feeder pigs per year. I know the mix would be different but at least having corn would help with them. I pay more for hog feed then my daddy does for cow feed.
Hay, we paid $45 or so per 800 lb roll. I think. Have a text in to my dad to verify.
Any idea what's in the premixed up feed? Take a picture of the tag for me.
This pasture feed only beef marketing thing is a marketing gimmick, like most. It makes the buyer feel better. Doesn't better the meat in any way. Know why it's so much more expensive? Because it takes longer to grow the cow.
I know it's corn, soybean, cottonseed meal, molasses, salt, and minerals. It's a 10% protein feed.
My hogs are similar but it's a lot more corn, no molasses (dry meal), and a 15% protein feed.
Oh believe me I'm under no illusions that it's a sure thing. I plan to start small. Very small, just a couple acres or three to start.
No Milo in the area but plenty of cotton, soybeans, and peanuts. Some corn. Will probably hire it picked the first time like you said.
His beef is awesome, I rarely eat a steak at a restaurant, I know I have better beef at home.
Basically if you can grow enough to feed your calves out, and sell enough to pay for the cost of production you'll do fine. But the weather and all manner of things can disrupt your best laid plans in one short hail storm.
For the number of head your running, growing your own hay is a good thing to do, do a good enough job on putting the hay up, so you can sell some high quality "horse" hay to pay for the hay you are feeding.
Buying the grain will likely come in below the cost of producing it. Other wise your friends with the graineries full would be dumping those to get some cash flow.
Two kinds of feed we're giving cattle
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Look for some place where you can get some whole oats, and cracked corn in bulk.(buying feed in 50 lb bags is a good way to spend a lot of money for not much feed) Give the calves about 3 lbs of each grain and all the hay they can eat, they'll put the grow on.
Planting a 10 acre patch of oats might work out right well, if you hay it just about the time it goes into the dough, the grain will go ahead and form and then you feed that hay to the calves with some cracked corn sprinkled on and watch the little buggers bloom. By haying it early like that if you get decent moisture you should get a second growth that you can then either hay again or combine for the grain.
I supplement the cows hay and grazing during the winter months with 3 lbs. each, 20 % range cubes, and they usually make the 4 months in fine shape.
You can also feed cows, calves and feeders whole corn, and their stomach's will absorb the majority of the good stuff from the grain.
Hence this thread. I know this.
Thanks for the advice thus far.