crimping corn

blue5000

Anybody doing this? With off the combine prices looking about half ration price anybody else think this is worthwhile? Did wheat a few years back and was happy with it, thinking of doing barley his year, just wondering what it costs?

Attie

Yes Blue was thinking of having a go at it again use to do it years ago rolled my own barley and feed it liked the results then but it is time consuming.
Could take a couple of tone and get it crimped a lot quicker and easier on the lungs.
Was asking around about prices was quoted 190 a tone rolled from local miller last year's barley.
Would barley/wheat not be a bit fresh yet.
Attie.

darragh_haven

As a person who have never grown anything other that grass. What does crimping do?

blue5000

You harvest cereal before it is fully ripe, I think at about 25% moisture, (open to correction on this) roll it and add an additive straight off the combine then put it in a pit with plastic all around it and on top (has to be sealed really well) to preserve it. Urea can be added to the additive to bring the protein up to about 16% The advantage I suppose is that it is easier to store than dry barley and harvesting can be done earlier.

Attie

Darragh as Blue says but you can also crimp/roll dried barley it basicly bust's the grain open so the stock can get the good out of it.
Attie.

freedominacup

blue5000 wrote: »

You harvest cereal before it is fully ripe, I think at about 25% moisture, (open to correction on this) roll it and add an additive straight off the combine then put it in a pit with plastic all around it and on top (has to be sealed really well) to preserve it. Urea can be added to the additive to bring the protein up to about 16% The advantage I suppose is that it is easier to store than dry barley and harvesting can be done earlier.

25% would be on the low side. It will generally end up around the same price per tonne as fully ripe grain when crimping costs and additives are taken into account. Cleanliness is vital and by that I mean any area where grain will be tipped needs to be powerwashed. Unless you are looking for big tonnage it's easier to let the contractor bring the grain to his yard and process it there and bring you the finished product. Less cleaning in this scenario too as you only need to clean the area where it will be clamped.

GY A1

Attie wrote: »

Darragh as Blue says but you can also crimp/roll dried barley it basicly bust's the grain open so the stock can get the good out of it.
Attie.

+1
buy off the combine and roll it here, in the shed as needed in winter,