Protien tubs?

[tom4018]

Are they worth it? Looking at Purina's Purlyx 18% all natural tub, it is a baked tub. $65 for 225#. Crystalyx has had a big price increase. do you feel the tubs are benifical?

[Northern Rancher]

They are convenient but expensive.

[IL Rancher]

I see them around a lot still. I have used them but I had a few problems. In the summer they would get so runny that the cows could lick off twice what they needed and in the witner it ook them forever to work on dwn. Have found a god mineral mixed wtih glten/distillers is much better and more even w ay to distribute protein and minerals.

Had a frend who used Purina producs.. Wasn't to found of them. Our local purina dealer stoppd carrying purina and switched to Kent a couple years back, claims to sell way more of their tub product vs when they sold for purina.. I said no thanks just the same.

[Kato]

We use Feedrite's tubs for calves that we buy from the auction mart.

We have a tub waiting in the pen, spotted between the hay feeder and the water bowl for them when they get off the truck. The calves just love it, and we are convinced that it gets them off to a better start. You'll see sick calves that have lost their appetites, and would otherwise be off feed standing over it, and licking like mad. It's like candy to them, and they will go to it before just about anything else. It seems to help them get going. Kind of like giving ice cream to a sick kid.

Once they are settled and on feed, we let them finish the tubs, and don't replace them.

[Faster horses]

They are too expensive for what you get. About the best
that can be said for them is that they are convenient, if
you want to think you are doing something for your cattle
and you don't mind the cost.

I think Kato might be on to something, however.

Lots of tubs are full of junk, not nutrition. Molasses doesn't
contain much as far as nutrition goes.

[Texan]

That's a high price for convenience - $578.50/ton. Cottonseed cake (if it's available in your area) will give you more than two times the protein for less than half the money. If you really need a feed with a limiter, try a 3-to-1 cottonseed meal/salt or soybean meal/salt. Still all natural and a lot cheaper.

If you decide to try the tubs (or any liquid feed), start out with them a good distance away from your water and/or hay and move them closer until you get consumption where you want it. If you're intending to use them to make cows clean up dead grass, move them to areas that you need grazed down, keeping in mind that the closer the tubs are to water, the more they will consume.

[Oldtimer]

[Big Muddy rancher]

[Oldtimer]

[Faster horses]

And then you have the strength to load them by hand, no doubt.

[Oldtimer]

[Kato]

I'm not sure how much you guys pay for these things, but they are about $90.00 here. We started 250 calves on two tubs. Well worth the money in our books.