Dairy Ration

C4d78

Was wondering what kind of mix fellas recommend in a good dairy ration for freshly calved spring herd. Was thinking of an 18% as silage tested at 15% protein and 76dmd. Are fellas using a simple three way mix. I'm Looking for a high UFL. Any thoughts and ideas on prices currently?

Deepsouthwest

C4d78 wrote: »

Was wondering what kind of mix fellas recommend in a good dairy ration for freshly calved spring herd. Was thinking of an 18% as silage tested at 15% protein and 76dmd. Are fellas using a simple three way mix. I'm Looking for a high UFL. Any thoughts and ideas on prices currently?

Don't know about other people, but I try and keep protein down and energy up in early lactation, cows will naturally milk like mad in early lactation, but will also lose a lot of condition. High protein ration will only accelerate that, minimising condition is my no1 after calving, milk volume looks after it's self

jt65

not calving 'till Feb so haven't priced yet, but usually use a HE 16% high maize nut & out to grass by day

it should be about €270 / ton

delaval

We're at 16% for the winter €255/tonne
Moving to 12% as soon as cows go out 1 Feb or whenever the first on calves

Greengrass1

Was thinking of dropping back meal to 4 kg and back to 14% and give a kg or two of rolled barley along with another kg of hulls when the cows go to grass?

Brown Podzol

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Was thinking of dropping back meal to 4 kg and back to 14% and give a kg or two of rolled barley along with another kg of hulls when the cows go to grass?

Did you get the beet/maize mix?

Greengrass1

Brown Podzol wrote: »

Did you get the beet/maize mix?

Nope. Friend in discussion group has 80 bales of silage off reseeded ground for me. Cut in sept. Not the dryest but its nice stuff

C4d78

Got a quote today --- Barley, Maize, Distillers, Rape 20% each and then soya hulls etc making up the final 20.
270 for a nut.
What are peoples thoughts on price and the mix?

flat out !!

This is worth a look.
http://www.teagasc.ie/calc/FeedStuffs.asp

C4d78

Anyone get any price reductions from millers in last few weeks or have they started to pass on price decrease of raw materials yet.
Must order a 8-9 tonne load before weekend and was hoping prices had started to slip backwards??

Farmer Pudsey

C4d78 wrote: »

Anyone get any price reductions from millers in last few weeks or have they started to pass on price decrease of raw materials yet.
Must order a 8-9 tonne load before weekend and was hoping prices had started to slip backwards??

You have to price around. Best way is to spec a ration and get quotes from the different lads you deal with. Got a url for this last year

http://www.gpfeeds.co.uk/ration.htm

So you decide on your P level and add in different straights. This year Barley and soyahulls are value so after than just add a P and maybe maize.

Wheelinone

That's a very usefull link. Thanks.

freedominacup

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

You have to price around. Best way is to spec a ration and get quotes from the different lads you deal with. Got a url for this last year

http://www.gpfeeds.co.uk/ration.htm

So you decide on your P level and add in different straights. This year Barley and soyahulls are value so after than just add a P and maybe maize.

Very handy Pudsey thanks.

Farmer Pudsey

freedominacup wrote: »

Very handy Pudsey thanks.

I do not know who put it up last year but I held onto it. It excellent to formulate a ration if you have ever done it before. You can really target the cheap good quality ingredients. With the price of barley and soya hulss I be thinking that a Hi protein ration for store using soya as a p source should be no more than 200/ton. It was over 46% starch and 17.1P

Had a finishing ration at 13.5P and 45% starch and it should a little less than that

Milked out

Got a quote for a 13% p with maize as main ingredient ration of 270. How's that measuring up

Farmer Pudsey

Milked out wrote: »

Got a quote for a 13% p with maize as main ingredient ration of 270. How's that measuring up

I tell him to shove it where the Sun don't shine. Maize can be the main ingredient in a ration/nut along with 5-6 others and it might not exceed 20% of ration. A barley, soyahulls, soyabean for P with molasses, mins and vits should be not much more than 200/ton. Some one posted recently that you can buy barley in small bags at 200/ton. I be buying that and a couple bags of soya bean meal before I get rode taht amount for a dodgy mix That I was told maize was the main ingriedent

TITANIUM.

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

I tell him to shove it where the Sun don't shine. Maize can be the main ingredient in a ration/nut along with 5-6 others and it might not exceed 20% of ration. A barley, soyahulls, soyabean for P with molasses, mins and vits should be not much more than 200/ton. Some one posted recently that you can buy barley in small bags at 200/ton. I be buying that and a couple bags of soya bean meal before I get rode taht amount for a dodgy mix That I was told maize was the main ingriedent

Jasus Pudsey you've a head like a fecking computer boy.

Greengrass1

16% ration maize barley top 250

stanflt

Milked out wrote: »

Got a quote for a 13% p with maize as main ingredient ration of 270. How's that measuring up

I'm getting a 16% hi energy( maize 24% of total nut ). For sub 250 with 1.5 mag

stanflt

Milked out wrote: »

Got a quote for a 13% p with maize as main ingredient ration of 270. How's that measuring up

Ps that deu cow looks well!!!

Farmer Pudsey

Greengrass1 wrote: »

16% ration maize barley top 250

Bob was right you dairy boys know F@@kall about ration's and have too much money to spend.

mf240

50/50Maize / distillers bought as straights 18 ish 240ish



Ufl 1.03 me over 14


Savage feed. Cows are busting on it.

Thats racist pudsey:D

Milked out

Who are lads getting the ration from in Cork. I'll have a ration specified today and will send it to DG, bandon and southern milling. Any others out there which lads would recommend or avoid?
No quota issues once I match last year from now on I'll be on target to fill just need to keep lactose up as autumn ladies are calving a tad later and Nov lac must stay above 4.5 which means the spring girls wouldn't want to be much below it come the end of Oct as they'll still make up a good bit of Nov supply

Milked out

stanflt wrote: »

Ps that deu cow looks well!!!

Thanks Stan, where else did you see her? was your rep down here with the group the other week?

C4d78

Milked out wrote: »

Who are lads getting the ration from in Cork. I'll have a ration specified today and will send it to DG, bandon and southern milling. Any others out there which lads would recommend or avoid?
No quota issues once I match last year from now on I'll be on target to fill just need to keep lactose up as autumn ladies are calving a tad later and Nov lac must stay above 4.5 which means the spring girls wouldn't want to be much below it come the end of Oct as they'll still make up a good bit of Nov supply

Southern Milling for last few loads. Reasonably happy with them to be honest.

keep going

Whats the price of straights at the moment because im not seeing enough of a reduction in the prices overall.then again im not buyingany either.heard its stillrunning 270to 280 aroundhere for maize based dairy

Farmer Pudsey

keep going wrote: »

Whats the price of straights at the moment because im not seeing enough of a reduction in the prices overall.then again im not buyingany either.heard its stillrunning 270to 280 aroundhere for maize based dairy

Maize, Barley and soyahulls are about 180/ton each or a little less. Soyabean meal is about 400/ton.

Greengrass1

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Maize, Barley and soyahulls are about 180/ton each or a little less. Soyabean meal is about 400/ton.

What % protein is barley coming in at ? Might feed straight barley for rest of the grazing season

Farmer Pudsey

Greengrass1 wrote: »

What % protein is barley coming in at ? Might feed straight barley for rest of the grazing season

something around 12% maybe a small bit with it. Grass protein is droping, soyahulls might be better. Protein is 11.5% but they slow down the rumen. If I was feeding on grass I get soyahulls and a bit of soyabean meal (9 parts to 1). Giving miller 20/ton to blend and deliver it should cost less than 220 euro maybe around 210 that is without minerals.

Greengrass1

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

something around 12% maybe a small bit with it. Grass protein is droping, soyahulls might be better. Protein is 11.5% but they slow down the rumen. If I was feeding on grass I get soyahulls and a bit of soyabean meal (9 parts to 1). Giving miller 20/ton to blend and deliver it should cost less than 220 euro maybe around 210 that is without minerals.

Never thought if that. I've the autumn cows starting to calve now too. Don't want to drive milk out of these though.
That would be very dusty wouldn't it? I've no bin

stretch film

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Never thought if that. I've the autumn cows starting to calve now too. Don't want to drive milk out of these though.
That would be very dusty wouldn't it? I've no bin

Luck of the draw with hulls and then soya is as dusty as it gets ... molasses. ?

Farmer Pudsey

Soya hulls are dusty, soya bean meal is not however it is a meal not a grain, you would have to put a good bit of molasses in it to stop the dust(that is what masks are for).

Nutting a mix cost 10-15 extra. We all have to learn to know what is value it might be maize this year barley next, not sure if you really want to push milk production, if not maybe just a few kgs of hulls to get more value out of the grass.

Greengrass1

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Soya hulls are dusty, soya bean meal is not however it is a meal not a grain, you would have to put a good bit of molasses in it to stop the dust(that is what masks are for).

Nutting a mix cost 10-15 extra. We all have to learn to know what is value it might be maize this year barley next, not sure if you really want to push milk production, if not maybe just a few kgs of hulls to get more value out of the grass.

Nope don't want to push anything out of them. Happy to give them 3/4 KGS of meal to keep condition on them bit that's about it. My priority is to get them back in calf. 25l is what they will peak at

Milked out

250 is best quote so far on a mix with barley, maize, soyahulls, maize distillers, soya molasses and mins and vits waiting on another lad to get back to me. 14.5% p

Farmer Pudsey

Milked out wrote: »

250 is best quote so far on a mix with barley, maize, soyahulls, maize distillers, soya molasses and mins and vits waiting on another lad to get back to me. 14.5% p

nut or ration

mahoney_j

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Nope don't want to push anything out of them. Happy to give them 3/4 KGS of meal to keep condition on them bit that's about it. My priority is to get them back in calf. 25l is what they will peak at

What u needed then is something hi in energy (maize) and 14% protein(soya).u also need to know your silage results and what it contains.dont think grass and barley will cut it for fresh calvers from now on.also don't forget minerals and cal mag

Greengrass1

mahoney_j wrote: »

What u needed then is something hi in energy (maize) and 14% protein(soya).u also need to know your silage results and what it contains.dont think grass and barley will cut it for fresh calvers from now on.also don't forget minerals and cal mag

Yes yes spot on due to get tested next week. More than likely I will mix up my own for the winter. Possibly be barley, beet pulp and soya.
The good old fashioned mix

Milked out

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

nut or ration

Ration.

Farmer Pudsey

Milked out wrote: »

Ration.

Should be nearer 200 as a ration that 250. Barley, hulls and maize are averaging 180 or below as straights, molasses is cheap as well, distillers and soya would not need much to make up ration at 14%P. give them 20/ton to mix and deliver I be trying to gey it back a bit. Would not commit to too much at that price

Milked out

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Should be nearer 200 as a ration that 250. Barley, hulls and maize are averaging 180 or below as straights, molasses is cheap as well, distillers and soya would not need much to make up ration at 14%P. give them 20/ton to mix and deliver I be trying to gey it back a bit. Would not commit to too much at that price

Will wait for the other to come back and see the story then. Where to you find out the straight prices Pudsey?

Farmer Pudsey

Milked out wrote: »

Will wait for the other to come back and see the story then. Where to you find out the straight prices Pudsey?

In general they are printed on last page of farmers journal. Usually you get an idea as different ones quoted over every 2-3 weeks

mf240

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Should be nearer 200 as a ration that 250. Barley, hulls and maize are averaging 180 or below as straights, molasses is cheap as well, distillers and soya would not need much to make up ration at 14%P. give them 20/ton to mix and deliver I be trying to gey it back a bit. Would not commit to too much at that price

If theres 25 kgs minerals and 25 call mag that will explain 20 or so of the cost.

If you left out the soya and went 225 kgs of maize barley hulls and distillers and 50 kgs mollases plus the cal mag and minerals it sholud be around 13.5 protien.

jaymla627

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Should be nearer 200 as a ration that 250. Barley, hulls and maize are averaging 180 or below as straights, molasses is cheap as well, distillers and soya would not need much to make up ration at 14%P. give them 20/ton to mix and deliver I be trying to gey it back a bit. Would not commit to too much at that price

How you expect a merchant to do a mix like that for 200 euro is laughable if theyre putting in minerals/cal mag, even if your a cash customer and paying on the day they would have noting out of it, if your buying on credit and getting it blown in 250 is about what they need to stay in business

Brown Podzol

jaymla627 wrote: »

How you expect a merchant to do a mix like that for 200 euro is laughable if theyre putting in minerals/cal mag, even if your a cash customer and paying on the day they would have noting out of it, if your buying on credit and getting it blown in 250 is about what they need to stay in business

25 kg mins/vits in and 25 kg feed out. Your only getting the ton. 215/225 would be a fair price delivered.

Milked out

It's 3.75 % minerals and 2.5% molasses. Don't like going over 3 % molasses with a coarse mix as ration will stick to bin

Farmer Pudsey

jaymla627 wrote: »

How you expect a merchant to do a mix like that for 200 euro is laughable if theyre putting in minerals/cal mag, even if your a cash customer and paying on the day they would have noting out of it, if your buying on credit and getting it blown in 250 is about what they need to stay in business

I did not say 200 I said as a ration it should be nearer 200 than 250. I had forgotten about cal mag however you have to remember that if they put in 25Kgs of cal mag they take out 25kgs of ration which is near 5 euro. Last year I bought a good min for 12 euro/25kgs so I imagine that mins cost the millers less that 400/ton so in that mix it would cost less than 10 euro. Not sure of price of cal mag.

Remember these straights prices are what a merchant/miller will charge you so they have a margin in that as well. They are buying barley @20% moisyure at 140/ton allow them 20/ton to dry, adjust weight and handle so margin there as well for them.

Just to give you an example a 14.5P mix containing 600kgs barley, 280 soya hulls, 70 hi-pro soya 25kgs min and 25kgs cal mag.

Barley at 170/ton is 102 euro, 280 soyahulls at @ 170/ton is 47.6, 70 kgs of hi-pro is 28 euro 10 for minerals and Not sure of price of cal mag lets say 12.5.

That is equal to 199.2 so allow him 20 euro to mix and deliver 220/ ton. At 250/ton he is making 50/ton or on an 8 ton load that dairy farmers often take 400 euro. It costs about another 15-20 to make a nut of it. Using molasses to reduce dust or to nut it would save 1-2 euro on mix if replacing barley.

As farmers we let millers and co-op selling rations walk all over us. how many go bust. Only the lads that give huge credit to chicken processors or pig farms.