corn screenings

[Bubbas Boys]

So, we had an offer from a local small town elevator yesterday for free corn screenings. They have already heard we are raising pigs and soon a milk cow. What would these be good for with us raising laying hens, turkeys, butcher hogs, goats, and soon a jersey cow? Thanks

[geo in mi]

You hafta ask; why free when the price is $185 a ton? http://www.dnrfeed.com/commodity_feed_prices

Could be the hauling cost for the quantity they have doesn't pay off; could be too much trash, dust, hulls make it unsalable to them; but then, could be okay if you haul it and the weight is better than 35 lbs/bu. Good corn screenings should have 85% nutritive value of shelled corn, around 10% protein. Ask to see a sample, maybe a bushel by volume. Just be aware of the old saying, don't look a gift horse in the mouth..

geo

[Allen W]

If your mixing your own feed just subtitute the cleanings for part of the grain.

[Dixie Bee Acres]

Free is always good. I throw some cracked corn to the chickens every day, and a couple pounds to the pigs every day, this in addition to their regular feed.

[BobbyB]

Our cleaning plant cleans and bags 800,000 bags a year. Plus about that much or more that goes out bulk.

So we have screenings from around 80 million pounds. They have a feedlot starter ration they mix using screenings along with roughage and protein concentrate pellets. I feed it and it is a good feed.

We also have some feed lots that will buy screenings from us for their rations as well.

If it is like ours, there will be a lot of bee's wings they call them or the little husks off the kernels is what they are, dust, pieces of cob, stalk, cracked corn corn meal and whole kernels in it.

If it's free and you dont have to haul it far, I'd haul all I could. The chickens and hogs will eat it for sure. The cow would eat it, but I think Id have to mix it with some other stuff for her and not feed it straight.

Like my grandpa said, never turn down something that's free

[Bubbas Boys]

Thanks for advise. I found out today that depending on the quality when I pick up it is not free. Don't have the exact price yet though. Thanks again.

[DaleK]

As long as you're prepared to deal with the result of every weed escape in the area

[agmantoo]

First thing to do is to verify that the screenings are free of contaminates that could harm whatever you will be feeding. I recall of a news coverage of a pig farmer feeding floor sweeping to his livestock and then the family ate the pork. The results were devastating to those that consumed the meat. Blindness was one of the problems.

[Bubbas Boys]

I don't know what you mean Dale??

[DaleK]

Every weed, resistant or otherwise, that manages to go to seed in a corn field supplying that elevator is very likely to end up with its seed in those screenings, and you'll end up with them in your manure and on your pastures.

[Bubbas Boys]

Ok. I see. Never even crossed my mind. I have worked hard to get good pasture here. Thanks for advise.