Whats the Difference between Beef nuts and Ration.

Sharpshooter82

This might seem a silly question to some people but Whats the Difference between Beef nuts and Ration.
I ask this as ive asked some of the farmers around my area over time and none of them can give me a decent answer. It seems to be whatever the certain farmers father used years ago and its what they use today out of habit more than what may be the best feed.

Muckit

Well a nut is basically pelleted ration ie its loose ingredients that are pressed into a pellet or nut. In doing this you do not get separation of ingredients and it ensures that there is more consistency between what each animal consumes within a batch. If you feed a loose ration, what with transport and handling, some ingredients can settle to the bottom (esp minerals) and then some animals get some ingredients, while others get the rest or they are not getting the same stuff every day.

But you are paying more for this privilege and if you are not too fussy, rations work out cheaper. It costs money to pellet the ration and this price is passed onto the farmer.

Be careful if changing between the two as nuts will weigh more per volume. ie a bucket of nuts will have more stuff in it than a bucket of ration. That's why it's important to measure by weight first off until you get your measures right.

It's horses for courses really, but if you take note most dairy farmers use a nut.. ask yourself why.. Yes it has to do with flow through augers and feeders, but consistency is better.

I hope this is of some help.

Sharpshooter82

thanks for that muckit