Protien tubs?

[Big Muddy rancher]

[greybeard]

What else do you feed those little calves that you have, Kato? How’s that going for you?
I hear those small calves are under extreme pressure at the markets. They sold some in at Prince Albert for $200 a head last week. Hate to take advantage of someone else’s bad fortune, but it does look like they need more bidders.
Here’s some good info on tubs that doesn’t include a good looking sales person.
http://www.ricecrc.org/reader/drtsuppfeeding/dai184.htm

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

There's a recipe to make your own tubs.....and it has concrete in it!!!! I knew them tubs were hard, but I didnt know it was because it had concrete mixed in it.

[alabama]

I have used the tubs before but this year I am useing "Forage Pro" I think I like it better.

[Faster horses]

You are right on, alabama. There really is no comparison with the
nutrition in Forage Pro as compared to a molasses block. We sell
molasses block but at our meetings we always talk about how much
better the Forage Pro is. The drawback to Forage Pro is that it has
to be managed. You have to service the tubs a couple of times
a week. That's a big deal to some, not much of a deal to others.
But the nutrition in the product makes a big difference.

Also, our tubs do not contain mineral. There is no way to keep the
mineral dispersed in the tub, it settles in pockets. So to anyone
that uses tubs, I would recommend a low-phos free choice mineral
be accessible at all times.

At the Beef Cow Symposium held in Rapid City a few years ago,
I heard that a man stood up in the midst of the crowd, told what
molasses block company he worked for and said they go over to
St. Onge to the lumber mill and get sawdust for filler in those tubs.

You know dirt is protein. They can add dirt to UP the protein, but
what good is it? Just a number on the tag. Cows can't utilize
dirt. And that's where the problems come. I dealt with a molasses
tub company once for one of our customers. Talk about a scumbag outfit.
(I would never want to be a feed salesman. Too much double talk
goes on. Figured that out after an afternoon with their feed salesman.)
What finally happened
is that the customers cows were eating 5-6 lbs. of thier block
instead of what the tag said they would. The cows got loose. Too
much molasses upsets the ph in the rumen, among other things.
It wasn't good. We did get the company to pay the man the
difference between what they said they would eat and what they
actually did eat. I would never get involved in a deal like that
again. If you don't know the company, RUNNNNNNNNNNNN!!

Luckily, the rancher we dealt with was appreciative with how
we handled the situation. Those tubs were supposed to be 20% all
natural protein. They weren't. When we read the tag carefully,
there was ammonia in the product. Also chicken feathers. And
once the top was gone, the stuff inside was stringy. It was GROSS
I tell ya.

To be safe, buy what you can see. They can just do too many things
with processed feed.

I still think using them to get calves on feed is the best use of them. But
don't kid yourself that they are what is keeping the calves healthy.
It's not. That started before the calves were weaned.

Need I say, "Immune system"?

[Jason]

I had never thought about weaning calves with them, but if that helps during the first week I think that is a great place for the tubs.

If a cow is suppose to eat 1 pound of 20% lick, that gives her .2 pounds of dietary protien. A dry cow needs what 1.8 ? You still have to feed her, but you have spent $o.36 of your budget already ($90/ 250 lbs).


Mixed hay at 10% protien at $60 a ton would take 18 pounds to give all 1.8 pounds of protien and cost $o.54

Will a cow stop at 18 pounds? Does it pay to cut her off at 16 so she needs the tub? If you do you short her for energy.

[Faster horses]

Jason, don't forget to take the moisture out of those tubs and figure
the protein on a dry matter basis for comparison.

There is no way to buy any supplement that beats alfalfa hay
for cost or nutrition factor. We show this to folks over and over again.

Some ranches are set up differently and they get along just fine.
But pencil it out and you can feed up to 10 lbs of $100/ton alfalfa hay
and do a lot more good.

But who wants to pay $100 ton for hay? They'll go to the feed
store instead.

Just my observation.

This was analyzed and printed in the Western Beef Producer
a few years back. I saved it for reference. Very interesting.

$90/tub for two tubs doesn't sound bad. Start feeding them to
your cows, it won't take long to realize they are costing you
$720/ton. And they still need good pasture with the tubs.
Talk about marketing!

Another thing that drives me nuts, is the ads on these molasses
tubs say feeding them will make your pasture last longer. Now just
think about that a moment. The protein makes the rumen more
active so they can DIGEST more grass. Does this not mean they
eat more grass than without the supplement? Sure it does. And
if they don't eat enough they get thin. Marketing just amazes me.

[Northern Rancher]

Just think of the testimonials FH when your company branches out into viagratone-I'm thinking a few of those old boys down there have been licking the mineral hoping to put some shine in the haircoat they have left. Up north we just rely on wiold berries and creekwater lol.

[badroute]

I really cant say I'm a full bore tub man but I do like using them in the corners of pastures and less desirable areas. I honestly think that I get better pasture utilization with them.

I've tried a few different tubs but I finally stuck with crystalyx. I've also found that it will break a person if the cows are able to have a constant supply of them. I figure they will eat .75lb per head per day. I mark that day on my calender and figure the day they should be out of crystalyx and then maybe take some more out. If you take them out as they eat them it gets quite pricey.

Just my two cents.

[lazy ace]

We use tubs too. We use MLS tubs from Ellendale. We have tried Crystalix but found these to work better.

have a cold one

lazy ace

[passin thru]

FH you are saying what I have been saying all along about tubs. I am gonna check my cows daily anyway so why pay extra for a convenience when you aren't gonna use it.
Many salesmen just promote these as a protein tub and when you say something about energy requirements they set there with there mouth open.
These tubs have a place but not everyplace.

[Faster horses]

You're a smart guy, PT. I always knew it!!!!!!!!