Rolled maize and maize meal

k mac

Is there much difference in the feeding value between rolled maize and maize meal because there is a big difference in the price. Is the rolled maize just more palatable for cattle, or would more of it be eaten as the maize meal is so dusty.

J.O. Farmer

k mac wrote: »

Is there much difference in the feeding value between rolled maize and maize meal because there is a big difference in the price. Is the rolled maize just more palatable for cattle, or would more of it be eaten as the maize meal is so dusty.

Do you mean flaked maize (clarenda). That's a bit more like cornflakes. The maize is cooked. It's the processing adds to the cost.

k mac

J.O. Farmer wrote: »

Do you mean flaked maize (clarenda). That's a bit more like cornflakes. The maize is cooked. It's the processing adds to the cost.

Yes thats the stuff, they call it rolled maize in the merchants, at least thats what its called on the bag!

J.O. Farmer

This should be of interest to you.

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/maize-vs-barley-diets-finishing-cattle/

k mac

J.O. Farmer wrote: »

This should be of interest to you.

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/maize-vs-barley-diets-finishing-cattle/

Study doesn't rate the use of maize at all..I have to say I find it good mixed with beef nuts for putting on flesh. Reading that makes me think I might be wasting even more money than I thought finishing cattle 😀

Jb1989

k mac wrote: »

Study doesn't rate the use of maize at all..I have to say I find it good mixed with beef nuts for putting on flesh. Reading that makes me think I might be wasting even more money than I thought finishing cattle 😀

Bass will soon give the merits of feeding maize, say nothing till he posts.

J.O. Farmer

k mac wrote: »

Study doesn't rate the use of maize at all..I have to say I find it good mixed with beef nuts for putting on flesh. Reading that makes me think I might be wasting even more money than I thought finishing cattle 😀

It says maize meal is better than barley from a feed value perspective. Value for money is a different question.

I think teagasc have a calculator to show the relative value of different ingredients relative to barley. So if barley is 100 then maize might be value at 110 etc.

Robson99

Maize meal is excellent for getting cover on cattle. I wouldn't pay much attention to that teagasc report....I see the difference myself when finishing.

The other advantage maize has over barley is the quality is always consistent and top notch where the same cannot be said for barley

kk.man

Robson99 wrote: »

Maize meal is excellent for getting cover on cattle. I wouldn't pay much attention to that teagasc report....I see the difference myself when finishing.

The other advantage maize has over barley is the quality is always consistent and top notch where the same cannot be said for barley

100% agree with the above. I have no figures or science to make my argument but I have finished cattle with it and without. There is a big difference.

k mac

Robson99 wrote: »

Maize meal is excellent for getting cover on cattle. I wouldn't pay much attention to that teagasc report....I see the difference myself when finishing.

The other advantage maize has over barley is the quality is always consistent and top notch where the same cannot be said for barley

Do you feed maize meal or rolled maize

DBK1

kk.man wrote: »

100% agree with the above. I have no figures or science to make my argument but I have finished cattle with it and without. There is a big difference.

100% in agreement as well. Fattening cattle with maize here for 15 years or more now and I can’t understand how we done it without the maize before that. It’s the only ingredient to get proper cover and grading out of stock.

No science to make my argument either, only a certain amount of figures when it comes to weights, grades and the cheques from the factory.

ESetter

I also find maize meal mixed with beef nuts great to put a quick finish fr cattle on grass.

Robson99

k mac wrote: »

Do you feed maize meal or rolled maize

Hi maize meal mix

DBK1

I use a 4 way maize mix of barley, maize, distillers and soya hulls and devenish Bull Power mineral (even though it’s all heifers I feed)

I find it very good and get great results with it. It was costing €250 a ton all winter until mid January. Went up to €260 then. I find it very good value.

Jb1989

DBK1 wrote: »

I use a 4 way maize mix of barley, maize, distillers and soya hulls and devenish Bull Power mineral (even though it’s all heifers I feed)

I find it very good and get great results with it. It was costing €250 a ton all winter until mid January. Went up to €260 then. I find it very good value.

Exact same mix here. Different mineral tho, has your mineral the acid buffer incorporated into it?

orm0nd

Used a mix containing finely ground maize and flaked (cooked) for cull cows. Seems to work well. Sold some of them in the mart and they weighed above my reckoning. The rest are old cows and will be going to the factory in a couple of weeks.

Was told once by a guy that finishes a lot of bulls that if feeding high levels of maize once you go over 30 % inclusion rate you need to include the remainder as cooked. otherwise the benefits will be lost.

DBK1

Jb1989 wrote: »

Exact same mix here. Different mineral tho, has your mineral the acid buffer incorporated into it?

Yea it has an acid buffer in it. It’s a mineral designed for intensively fed bulls so it’s great for all stock on that type of meal even up to ad-lib feeding.