Quote:
Originally Posted by rockin_n
Our local farmers co-op has a feed they call 5 way mix. It has corn gluten pellets, distillers grain, corn chops, wheat mid pellets, and soy hull pellets. Would this be a decent all purpose feed to feed to horses, cattle, goats and chickens? Do any of yall use something like that? The co-op says it is fine for all of them, just wondering if it might affect growth, fertility, or any other problems you might see with it? Just trying to decide if I should try it as it only comes in 1500# quantities. Any opinions or advice?
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No. That is not a good mix. The corn gluten, cracked corn, wheat mids are okay. Forget the rest. Distillers grain is left over from making alcohol and is not what it was originally marketed to be. I would never feed it. I also wouldn't feed soy hull pellets.
For an all purpose feed, you need something with protein between 12% and 16%. BUt, it needs to be a protein source that is easily digestible to all the animals.
With that said, of the animals you listed, horses are more specific in dietary needs than the others. If you must feed a horse, stay away from raw corn. Horses are naturally diabetic and what is corn? Corn is starch. Starch is converted to sugar. So, you feed raw corn to a horse and they get hot headed for a little while and then crash. You can use corn products in their feed, but it's best to stay away from raw corn.
As far as goats, they are a ruminant and are almost identical to a cow's digestive system and can be fed just about anything you would feed a cow. Goat feeds are often the same thing as cattle, but cost a heck of a lot more because it is for labeled for goats.
Chickens need very little if they are free ranged. If they are penned up, they need grit and oyster shell free choice separate from their feed. If they are free ranging, you may have to give them oyster shell. It depends. I don't feed oyster shell. I take the old egg shells after I use the eggs, crush them up and feed them back to the chickens in place of oyster shell.
So, basically, you are talking about 3 very distinct nutritional needs and one feed that has some worthless ingredients just to make it sound good.
If anything, just feed the chickens laying mash or just cracked corn if they aren't free ranging.
The horse can eat a 12% to 16% protein feed and it can be the same as what you feed the goat.
P.S. If a goat is on pasture 24/7 they don't need grain unless you are milking them.
