AAOK feeding program

[ablizzard01]

I have been feeding this ration for a week the steer is really eating well. Just have a question on the amount of cottonseed hulls. I have been feeding 10 lbs a feeding twice a day and the amount of cottonseed hulls that we mix up seems like alot. Keep in mind we mix it by hand and my bride tells me that it is a real pain in the #@%^ for so any ideas besides a cement mixer?

 

[CAB]

8 lbs. of Cotton Seed Hulls is about a 5 gal. bucket full, so yes it will look like a lot. If you don't mind my asking, why don't you want to consider using a cement mixer? I found one on a sale for $80 and you can buy new at farm stores for a very reasonable price/$200 to $300.

 

[ablizzard01]

I was just wanting something maybe a lil easier for my boy to deal with when mixing it I was thinkin like a drywall mud mixer maybe just thought there would be some ideas out there. Might have to get the ole cement mixer

 

[firesweepranch]

We have our mill mix it with half of the cotton seed hulls, then add the other half when we feed the heifers at night. Our mill gets clogged with that much CSH, so we had to modify how we feed it. A little trouble, but we have done great with this ration!

 

[ablizzard01]

The closest mill is 50 mi away. So I have to buy everything by the bag and mix it my self. I really like the ration . But just tryin to find a better way to mix it, for my eightyear old.

 

[cowman 52]

Build a feed box, 30 inches wide, 48 inches long, 45 degree slope in one end.  Mix your feed in bigger amounts, like a bag of this,  1/2 bag that, 2 buckets of something,  stir like you mix cement to lay brick. Put your ingredients in layers, you will find it works just fine. If you mix feed in the am and at night the bride uses what is left over.

 

[GoWyo]

I have been mixing feed using a corn, oats and barley mix (currently about 1/3 each and put a little extra corn in it) with cottonseed hulls.  A 40 lb. sack of CSH is $21 here so I only use it to add a little texture to the feed.  Basically the ratio is 3 coffee cans of grain to 1/2 a coffee can of CSH plus about 3/4 cup of vegetable oil and a dose of rumensin.  That gives enough fiber to make the feed more palatable and the oil helps with dust control and palatability.  I mix in a 5-gallon bucket with a mortar/paint mixer on an old drill and it works great.  800 lb. steers are right on target gaining 3 lbs. per day eating 15 lbs of this stuff per day plus free choice grass hay.

 

[obie105]

I second the feed box. We use to do it that way. My brother at the time was pry 8-10 and it was his job to mix the feed back then.

 

[CAB]

Gathered up the ingredients for AAOK's ration today. It figured up @ $275.20 per ton today. Corn @ $4.59 bu. / CSH @ $.235 per Lb. / Oats @ $4.95 per bu., / SBM @ $.27 per lb. / molasses @ $.25 per lb. add whatever your mineral cost is to the final cost. I've heard of some of the bagged "show feeds" costing $16.00 per bag. This figures up to $6.88 per 50 lbs. That's a savings of $364.80 per ton. Again add your mineral cost.