Question about "wasted" barley

AnthonyF · #1 07/01/11, 01:48 AM

Hi everyone,
As some of you may know from some of my past posts I am a first timer at raising some beef. I have 2 8 month old holstiens that I am raising for beef. I am currently feeding them each about a coffee can full of rolled oats and barley(recomended by the farmer I bought the mini bag from) My question is I am seeing alot of waste barley in their manure. Is there something wrong with the cows digestion or is this normal. I hate to think that there not getting anything out of this as I did buy about 800lbs worth. Also is there anything I can do to help them process it better. I dont see any "wasted" oats, but they are ground fairly fine. Next time would I be better off getting just rolled oats? Thanks for all the help, this site has though me many things and I hope I can learn some more.

tinknal · #2 07/01/11, 02:59 AM

Normal, don't worry about it. Even though the kernel is intact, they pull quite a bit of the nutrition out of it.

oregon woodsmok · #3 07/01/11, 02:43 PM

Is it rolled barley? They will pass the hulls, but if you inspect it, the center should be digested out.

AnthonyF · #4 07/01/11, 06:53 PM

yes it is rolled, and apon further inspection of the "wasted" barley it is still intact, hulls and center

linn · #5 07/02/11, 03:39 PM

You might consider grinding it with a little corn, if you have access to a grinder. Otherwise, I would buy pelleted feed, that won't pass through them whole like grain does.

AnthonyF · #6 07/02/11, 07:45 PM

Well I don't have a grinder so is this mini bag useless to me? Or will they still pull some nutrients out of the barley, or is there anything I cab do to improve what they get out of it?

linn · #7 07/02/11, 08:17 PM

They will get some nutrients out of the barley even if it some of it passes through whole. If you have chickens, they can pick up afte the calves. Ours do it all the time.

AnthonyF · #8 07/02/11, 08:21 PM

So is the oats/barley mix not the best choice, would straight oats be better. Keep in my they are getting all the grzing.they can get right now, the grain is to just keep them tame and hopefully add some bulk before we finish them.

tinknal · #9 07/02/11, 10:10 PM

Have you ever brewed beer? You use malted brewing grains and extract the beer nutrients in the mashing process. The grain looks exactly the same after the mashing process, yet you still have beer.

linn · #10 07/03/11, 09:37 AM

If you are just feeding them to keep them tame, why not just get some pelleted feed, no waste there.

tinknal · #11 07/03/11, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linn

If you are just feeding them to keep them tame, why not just get some pelleted feed, no waste there.

The waste is the same, you just don't see it as the grain is ground up and mixes with the manure.

linn · #12 07/03/11, 12:32 PM

I didn't mean bowl movements, I meant wasted grain. I don't believe there would be as much wasted food in feeding pellets as whole grain passed through the intestine without being digested. If food is being digested there is surely more nutrient value than food that is passed undigested through the intestines.

http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/beef11490

AnthonyF · #13 07/03/11, 05:15 PM

What about finishing with oats and barley seeing as I already have it and its readily available?

linn · #14 07/03/11, 05:50 PM

I fed barley, oats and sunflower seeds before and they worked OK.

AnthonyF · #15 07/03/11, 06:01 PM

Just okay? What would be better?

linn · #16 07/03/11, 06:09 PM

It will be fine.

AnthonyF · #17 07/03/11, 06:20 PM

Thank you for all your help