Growing your own feed

[stanb999]

Has any of you tried to grow your own grain ration?

I was thinking that I could grow a field of sunflowers And a field of buckwheat.
I would then use a chopper to bulk chop both and add mineral concentrate.

From what I've read the sunflowers only lack Lysine but the buckwheat is high in this so it should be good.

I would be using this to feed out.

I asked this question over at the goat forum also but have gotten no answers. I plant to grow and feed this ration to the whole farm. It will be adjusted a little to provide proper balance for each animal. Any guidance would be helpful.

[homebirtha]

No, but, I've been wondering mangels. Actually, I've been meaning to post about this on the main forum.

I notice mangels mentioned a lot as great livestock feed in some of our small farm books, mostly those published or written in Europe. I guess it's pretty common feed there? One of our seed catalogs had mangels and sugar beets advertised and I'm wondering if anyone has used them. They recommend them as winter feed for livestock. I've heard of them being used for sheep and cows, not sure about goats and pigs though.

Thoughts?

[stanb999]

Originally Posted by homebirtha

No, but, I've been wondering mangels. Actually, I've been meaning to post about this on the main forum.

I notice mangels mentioned a lot as great livestock feed in some of our small farm books, mostly those published or written in Europe. I guess it's pretty common feed there? One of our seed catalogs had mangels and sugar beets advertised and I'm wondering if anyone has used them. They recommend them as winter feed for livestock. I've heard of them being used for sheep and cows, not sure about goats and pigs though.

Thoughts?

Stock beets are good feed.
I figure they aren't used here because of the wide availability or corn. But as of late that has changed.

[highlands]

We do this in a small way to supplement late fall and winter. We grow corn, pumpkins, beets, turnips, sunflowers, etc and then turn the animals into those areas when the pastures get low. We plant buckwheat, clover and other things in the pasture to increase the quality. I would like to do more but hasn't happened yet.

[stanb999]

Originally Posted by highlands

We do this in a small way to supplement late fall and winter. We grow corn, pumpkins, beets, turnips, sunflowers, etc and then turn the animals into those areas when the pastures get low. We plant buckwheat, clover and other things in the pasture to increase the quality. I would like to do more but hasn't happened yet.

Well I was thinking I could cut it and let it dry like hay then put it thru a leaf chopper (10HP) to get it into bags. Does this seem doable?

[stoker46]

I've heard that Jerusalem Artichokes are good as pig fodder.