What's really in the feeding?

B25

I was wondering does the Department or any independent body check what's in the feeding that is being delivered into the yard. I have spent a fortune on feeding this year, as has everyone else, because of the bad weather but the cattle are going back all the time. Is there any good at all in it. I would love to get it analysed.

Conmaicne Mara

I think there is a place in Meath that does some type of feed analysis.

whelan1

oldcastle laboratories

freedominacup

Any agri lab should be able to analyse the meal. They won't really be able to tell you what the rates of the various ingredients are but they should be able to give you energy and protein levels as well as ash and fibre figures. Get them to split sample in case the analysis doesn't tally with your suppliers label and thet are looking for some of what you sampled to do a comparison. BTW most mills I've dealt with are happy to make up a ration to your spec for delivery.

td5man

I find you get better results from feeding straights . ie barley soya beetpulp

freedominacup

td5man wrote: »

I find you get better results from feeding straights . ie barley soya beetpulp

Yep

td5man

freedominacup wrote: »

Yep

Had a wagon mix from a reputable supplier here a few years ago and there was a bit left at the end of the winter so gave it to weanlings and they wouldnt eat it.

slippy wicket

A lot of the feckers would put any auld dirt into their mix. I've found everything from ground up pallets to mouldy lumps of god knows what in blends.
Nuts are a pure lottery in many cases.

freedominacup

slippy wicket wrote: »

A lot of the feckers would put any auld dirt into their mix. I've found everything from ground up pallets to mouldy lumps of god knows what in blends.
Nuts are a pure lottery in many cases.

Nuts and horseburgers same sort of thing different end user.

KatyMac

freedominacup wrote: »

Nuts and horseburgers same sort of thing different end user.

Do ye remember couple of years ago there was a hooha about what was in some variety of beef nut (can't remember the exact variety). If you want to be sure of what's in the feed you need to start with the recognisable ingredients and mix it yourself. Same as if you want to eat burgers go to your local butcher and buy mince that has traceability. My local butcher's father often sells me calves and they then end up in his shop in a couple of years!

Sam Kade

I am feeding yearlings at the moment with coarse ration at 2kg/head/day and silage. It isn't doing much for them :rolleyes: In the past I used brewers grains and beet pulp when the sugar factory was still in operation and minerals the weanlings thrived on it

td5man

Sam Kade wrote: »

I am feeding yearlings at the moment with coarse ration at 2kg/head/day and silage. It isn't doing much for them :rolleyes: In the past I used brewers grains and beet pulp when the sugar factory was still in operation and minerals the weanlings thrived on it

You can get imported beet pulp .

Bigbird1

I agree it is a lottery buying in rations but the main reason for cattle doing badly this winter is poor silage quality.

B25

I know that my silage is good. I am getting a mix of barley,beet pulp, distillers + yeast minerals. The same mix every year but this year the cattle are getting thinner and thinner. I would love to have it independently analysed just to see what the results would be.