What's in your milk? <not a Capitol One or GMO thread>

Awnry Abe · #1 05/13/14, 06:07 PM

We finally have reached the comfort level of quality and consistency of dairy production that we have begun to advertise raw milk for sale on CL. Many of the inquiries have turned away because we feed cracked corn at milking--even though they acknowledge our pasture-fed animals. The customer's concern is GMO related.

PPPPLLLEEEAAAASSSEE don't let this thread be about GMO. The only relevant GMO-fact that concerns me is that I am not reaching the full customer base because I feed grain.

I am interested in finding alternatives to corn, (and other GM grain), as a milking ration. My current ration is a 50-50 mix of corn and Chaffhaye(chopped/fermented hayledge made of Alfalfa).

To be completely honest, I am a relative nube at cattle. I am only feeding corn because 1) it's cheap and the cows come for it. And 2) because "everyone else is doing it."

Ok, #2 is lame, but I have no real rational for doing it. I've been told it is necessary to provide sufficient energy for grazing, but my beef cows and dry dairy cows aren't falling on their faces out there. I have no doubt that hi milk production taxes their system (RIP Jane, the best LaMancha ever).

If anyone has any sage advice here, I would listen. For the record, I am completely fine with far less than peak production.

Seth · #2 05/13/14, 06:28 PM

Read some of the studies done by Ag schools, especially ones close to you. There are tons of cheap alternatives if high production is not the goal. You're in a good position to experiment.

Everyone is using corn because it works and is in budget. Branch out, research and learn. Seth

Seth · #3 05/13/14, 06:29 PM

PS Normally there are Cheerios in my milk. Seth

DaleK · #4 05/13/14, 08:50 PM

Barley. Oats. Wheat, up to a point. Start with barley, it's a pretty close substitute

Seth · #5 05/13/14, 08:56 PM

Check into triticale as a forage as well. Seth

PrettyPaisley · #6 05/13/14, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleK

Barley. Oats. Wheat, up to a point. Start with barley, it's a pretty close substitute

Yep.

I feed the cows and goats barley ($8/50#) and oats ($10/50# at the local feed mill) to avoid corn - but honestly they also do not get much. For the folks who want your raw milk - they also want to know that the cows eat mainly grass and only get grain (even if it's not GMO) as a small part of their diet -- which is sounds like it is. And if you take it one step further and sprout the grain - the folks who want your milk will think you hung the moon.

Farmerboy16 · #7 05/14/14, 05:53 AM

I just give my cows and goats high quality hay during milking, and that is all I give to them- hay, even in the winter, nothing else but minerals, and all of my girls are FAT in Capital letters. Its spring now, they have access to pasture, so I only give them hay when I am milking them.

CIW · #8 05/14/14, 11:08 PM

Have you thought about giving a couple of flakes of high quality alfalfa while milking. Although the ration that I feed the steers has barley in it, feeding pure barley can bring on bloating. Especially around the first frost in the fall. I would probably mix it in with some sprouted cottonseed, oats, rice hull, and bran. (In that order) I would grind these or have it rolled and mixed at the local mill.
When we had a small number of animals to feed I would purchase the invidual products preground or rolled. Weigh them according to the percentage of the mix they constituted and combine them in a concrete barrel mixer. The mill can probably suggest a good ratio for you.
Get ahold of an old Morrison Feeds and Feeding book. They carry alot of options with charts to help you make up your own mixtures.
Corn is not the only game in town.