Lost out on CHEAP feed or avoided catastrophe

WJMartin · #1 08/21/12, 10:13 AM

DH is a bit upset with me. His friend just bought out an old feed mill and in one of the buildings is a huge pile of feed, powdered stuff? with cracked corn in it. Haul it off for free! Great deal! I told him NO!! I don't need feed, I'm set for the winter. Don't know what's in this stuff besides corn, it's been there at least two years probably longer and doesn't have bugs in it, hummmm, what was it sprayed with..... pass.

I could see using this IF you have a large herd of large cows and mix it in with other feed.

I have small cows, small herd. I passed but he's upset, feels like he found me a good deal.

Would any of you have taken that chance?

||Downhome|| · #2 08/21/12, 10:24 AM

NOPE!

Probably the flour from milling.

Jackie · #3 08/21/12, 01:07 PM

No. I wouldnt even feed that to a $2 rabbit. I MIGHT feed it to chickens because they seem to be able to handle 'crap' better...but certainly not cows. Terrible to even consider it. You did the right thing.

secuono · #4 08/21/12, 01:18 PM

I agree, birds could handle 'junk' better than mammals for sure.
I wouldn't of taken it either. Rabbits are sensitive to molds and corn can easily become spoiled. But none of my animals, maybe pigs, would I risk giving them it.

farmerstac · #5 08/21/12, 01:24 PM

Everything that glitters isn't Gold.

goodhors · #6 08/21/12, 01:34 PM

I would be with you. No telling what is in the piles or how it was handled. Better to avoid problems by not taking it. No savings if you lose any animal.

Tell him thanks for thinking of you, but it would be a false ecomony to get that old grain.

agmantoo · #7 08/21/12, 02:41 PM

Such situations with feed always has me recalling how a number of years ago of I believe a Mexican man that was getting sweepings at a feed mill. He took home and fed to pigs the grain scraps. The family then ate the pork and the entire family had major medical problems. The pics of the family were on TV. What was viewed was devastating.

WJMartin · #8 08/21/12, 04:44 PM

Thanks for the replies. I knew it wasn't a good idea just needed some input.

Agmantoo - what a sad story, I know that man thought he was doing good, providing for his family.

mekasmom · #9 08/21/12, 04:53 PM

I would have picked it up for chickens.

tinknal · #10 08/21/12, 05:00 PM

Most mills can test for nutritional content and aflotoxins. I would have took the chance and then just gotten it tested. Maybe even have got some turkey poults to convert it to meat.

oregon woodsmok · #11 08/21/12, 05:34 PM

I won't feed anything that I don't know what it is.

Awnry Abe · #12 08/21/12, 09:22 PM

Compost?

65284 · #13 08/21/12, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agmantoo

Such situations with feed always has me recalling how a number of years ago of I believe a Mexican man that was getting sweepings at a feed mill. He took home and fed to pigs the grain scraps. The family then ate the pork and the entire family had major medical problems. The pics of the family were on TV. What was viewed was devastating.

I remember that sad story. I think he got some seed wheat that had been treated with a mercury based anti-fungal.

WJMartin · #14 08/22/12, 10:10 AM

I talked with DH more last night and he said it is in a cement block building about 30 X 30 and about 40 ft. full, I'm thinking it should have an auger on it somewhere. So there are tons and tons of this stuff.

We have just cleared 5 acres of cedars off of the poorest soil area, so it is bare dirt, what if I put it on that and planted rye grass and clover on it? Since it was intended as cattle feed I doubt it has been treated with mercury. I'll see if I can find out how to get it tested.

I don't have any poultry, it would just be food for the bobcats and foxes that I watch walk through my back yard.

ramiller5675 · #15 08/22/12, 04:07 PM

All I know is that I sold some grain sorghum to a feed mill a couple of years ago that went bankrupt this year (I think) and it was sold off at auction.

If the feed mill is anything like the bankrupt one I dealt with (or actually is the same one), I would think twice about cleaning anything out of it and spreading it on my land. There is no telling what is that pile of "feed".

WJMartin · #16 08/22/12, 07:25 PM

ramiller - I wouldn't be surprised if it is the same one, we have been hearing some wild stories about this place and it did sell this year at auction.

Guess it'll be pass on everything.

myersfarm · #17 08/23/12, 12:50 AM

if there was that much I would send off a sample..and see whats in there...then decide

tinknal · #18 08/23/12, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myersfarm

if there was that much I would send off a sample..and see whats in there...then decide

If this feed tested good you could buy dozens of feeder steers, feed them out, and make a bundle.

PaulNKS · #19 08/23/12, 11:44 AM

If you're worried about what was in the feed to control bugs, then you should not be buying commercial feeds. ALL grains stored in elevators are treated with chemicals much more toxic than anything sprayed on fields for weed control.

FarmerDavid · #20 08/23/12, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinknal

If this feed tested good you could buy dozens of feeder steers, feed them out, and make a bundle.

I dont see a reason not to get it tested to find out for sure, tests are cheep.