COB question

[farmmom]

I have had no luck finding barley in my area. I found oats for a good price. I have found wheat. Can wheat be used instead of barley? Would the mixture be the same? I also plan on adding a little BOSS. Also feeding free choice minerals. Any other suggestions welcome. (I do not plan to add corn)

[farmmom]

The grains I am able to find in my area are:
Corn
Oats
Wheat
(COW?)
Please help me. I can't seem to find anything searching elsewhere. I have called every feed mill in my area. Nobody carries barley. Is there anything else that I can use?

[o&itw]

Yes, the wheat would substitute just fine. It is winter time... they could use the corn too, high energy, and lots of carotene....the mixture need a little BOSS, or molasses because it is low in phosphorus.

[ozark_jewels]

I personally would not use the wheat. I would go with just whole oats and BOSS or corn if you want. I never use barley and oats together. I feed my milkers and kids whole oats with a smattering of whole corn for fat.

[Cannon_Farms]

I know your not suposed to use molasses with goats, but I use the All grain for horses 1/2 and 1/2 with alfalfa pellets when I cant get the soft alfalfa/orchard or timothy mixed, and i use a 20lb bag of BOSS to a 100lbs of feed, just makes it easier to mix it all in and my goat are showing me they are thriving on it. They also have free choice burmuda hay.
The last goat I sold for meat the guy was very pleased with the flavor

[o&itw]

Originally Posted by Cannon_Farms

I know your not suposed to use molasses with goats, but I use the All grain for horses 1/2 and 1/2 with alfalfa pellets when I cant get the soft alfalfa/orchard or timothy mixed, and i use a 20lb bag of BOSS to a 100lbs of feed, just makes it easier to mix it all in and my goat are showing me they are thriving on it. They also have free choice burmuda hay.
The last goat I sold for meat the guy was very pleased with the flavor

My response above was as to available nutrients. Forage, most grains, and green feeds, are usually deficient in phosphorus. I do not know about browse.
the two easy sources for this in a mixed grain ration, with hay, are molasses or BOSS. If there is a problem with using molassas then BOSS would be best, although it should be used in limited amounts. Perhaps, if a mineral supplement is also being used, it would be unecessary. The more variety in grains one uses, the more likely one is to cover all the micronutrient and vitamin bases. If wheat germ or wheat shorts are used instead of wheat, then there would be sufficient phosphorus. The carotene in corn is a big help with vitamin A, which might not be in adequate supply if the animals are not getting "green" forage.

[Cannon_Farms]

I dont have a problem with molasses, its in the feed I use, its others that swear its not good for them, so I feel its like most things a personal choice. Thats the only problem with all grain I have came across with using it

[ET1 SS]

We mix local: barley, corn and oats along with molasses.

I add mineral salt. Actually we got salt in large quantity, it was being sold as tropical fish tank sea salts. But it lists a lot of stuff. And it was real cheap.

[hoofinitnorth]

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

I never use barley and oats together.

Why not? More often I hear people leave out the corn and only feed the barley & oats.

Originally Posted by o&itw

Forage, most grains, and green feeds, are usually deficient in phosphorus.

Most grains? Are you talking cereal grains or others? I thought most cereal grains are actually high in phosphorus. Need to pull out my nutrition book again...

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by hoofinitnorth

Why not? More often I hear people leave out the corn and only feed the barley & oats.

Because when I can get barley here(year round *usually, but not this year), its cheaper than oats. There is no reason to feed both, so I just feed barley. Except now when I am feeding just oats as my feed store cannot get barley at this time.

[ET1 SS]

I get oats and barley for the same price. Two different farmers in different neighboring counties, both sell their grain for $5/bag, or $200/tonne.