Rolling oats?

[ALLFARMER]

We are feeding them whole to the calves in a creep feeder as well. Watch for bloat the first couple of days...I did lose one this winter. We plan to bunk feed rolled barley and Peas once it gets closer to spring. Peas can really put the weight on.

[btjadenlepp]

I don't think that's correct JohnGalt. If
you take a BPC, you're thereafter at the
mercy of the futures/CD$ price. The CWB
marketing department has already taken
their pound of flesh at that point. If
they took too much and then padded the
pools with it later, you could end up
looking bad, but that's another whole
debate.

[food4u]

When we still had cattle we always rolled the oats.Used to wet the oats if they were too dry, soaking it the night before really worked good for us. Used to roll them just hard enough to crack the hull, that way not too many fines. This is what causes bloat in freshly weaned calves.

[ajl]

Do not take a futures without a basis first because then the CWB has got you. Been there done that.

[Ruken]

From my experience, younger calves will not process the large volumes of feed through the stomachs as do cows. As a result, calves will digest more of the whole oats. Suggestions figure about 85% is digested with about 15% passing through. So it boils down to economics. 15% of a bushel passing through vs the cost of processing...hmm.

[RENO]

Rolling the oats just enough to crack them is the way to go. The grain you are seeing in the manure...if you look closely(if you don't mind doing this)you will find it is just hulls.