value of feed mixers

[frustrated1]

since we're probably needing to name all these critters, how can we make our feed stretch most effectivly? currently i'm running 150cows and in my infinite wisdom also still have the calves. i've been running the bale shredder putting out hay and straw in the morning, then going back in the afternoon and dumping silage on top of what is left with a bunk feeder. i feel if the straw were mixed in with the silage it would be possible to stretch the silage a bit and make feeding more efficient obviously. my question is how much more effective? can one justify the capital cost of a mix wagon to get an even, optimum mix, especially when mixing grain for the calves. how much, if any feed savings are there? any studies or thoughts on this?

[kato]

Start by getting an analysis done of the ingredients. That way you can come up with the cheapest way to get the nutrition they need.

Sometimes there is more feed value there than you think, and you can monkey with it quite a bit.

Don't forget the minerals. If they are off, your conception rate for this summer may be off.

[dalek]

I agree with Kato. Also, if you aren't putting much grain or mineral into it now, you could try shredding your hay and straw into a box manure spreader if you have one and dump the corn silage on top, then run it off the back end of the spreader and it will mix pretty well. We mixed a sort of half-baked TMR of hay, haylage, corn silage and high-moisture corn for a few years for dairy like that, it works well as long as you don't have the small-volume feeds like mineral to try to mix in uniformly.

[frustrated1]

thanks for the input. yes, the feed analysis are in and the minerals are there. i guess i should have worded my question better. are there studies showing more efficient use by the cow if everything is mixed properly at once? ie: does the ruemen work as well getting full of long material(straw, hay), then 8 hours later getting the silage or is it making better use by getting the complete mixture at one time? certainly the time involved in starting and running the machinery twice may justify an interest payment on a different machine but would there be any actual benifit in feed efficiency? or am i just grasping at straws? maybe i'm already doing the right thing feeding them twice?

[pmckenna]

As far as I know, the Total Mixed Ration (TMR) goes as far back as the 1960's, first for dairy and then for beef. I would imagine there is tons of material around, lots of studies at US State Universities tc., but which ones I don't know. Nutritionist should know.

[sinotte]

we do use those mixers for years now and it works.
one of our man here was using a silage wagon to mix grain and silage but was using round bales of hay in racks that calves were able to eat the hay only instead opf the total ration so his gain weitgh was from 1.50 to1.75 lbs/day
and he bought a vertical mixer that he could use it for round bales so hay was into the ration and his first lot of calves came out at 2.30lbs/day just coz the hay was mixed into the ration so this way calves have to eat whats in the ration instead of only eat hay that the gain is not good only with hay so i hope that answered your question about mixers

[ALICIA]

A few years back it was reported that it was best to feed small amounts every few hours but to never let the cows go with out for more that 2 hrs a day. This works good if you have the cows in the barn tides up but if they are out side I'd say do what is best for you and do what ever will get them thow until the borders get open. Rash'an them if you have to but don't run out of hay before spring and grass time what ever you do. A little thin at grass time is beter that no feed left in mid spring. The grass will bring them back.

[ALLFARMER]

The older Hesston & JD bale processors used to have hammers that chopped up the straw fairly well. That or get a custom tub grinder to come in and shred a 100 bales or so of straw. Put in a bucket of silage in your feed wagon then a bucket of chopped straw, then silage. By the time its dumped out it will be mixed up enough. I did this one winter at a feedlot I worked at and it really stretched the feed. With this we added 10% beef supplement but If I remember correctly this can't be used on pregnant cows, just calves. The straw length was 1" or so after being shredded. Good luck!