Feedlot self feeding

[herrdale]

I,m a farmer-feeder with a 90 cow herd and feed out my own calves with traditional feedbunk style feeding. Changing labor resources have me considering a self feeding regimen. Are the Smidley steer stuffers a good product? Can I also self feed high quality baleage(18%P, 65%TDN) in a separate round bale self feeder to supply protein and roughage??? Any ideas or experience to share?

 

[Jason]

Nothing works better than the bunk with fresh TMR everyday.

However I understand the labor situation.

I am not familiar with any particular brand of feedstuff, but here are a few generalizations.

If the forage is too good the cattle may not be inclined to eat the grain offered. Or they might get too much grain on a self feed system. Limiters are not 100%.

Waste will be higher.

Not all cattle in the pen will be eating the exact same ration, there will be more variation in the pen than feeding in the bunk.

Maybe someone else knows about the particular brand you asked about.

 

[Faster horses]

I don't know about the brand, but in working in nutrition for the past 13 years I can tell you this:

"It's hard to manage what you can't measure."

 

[TimH]

I,m a farmer-feeder with a 90 cow herd and feed out my own calves with traditional feedbunk style feeding. Changing labor resources have me considering a self feeding regimen. Are the Smidley steer stuffers a good product? Can I also self feed high quality baleage(18%P, 65%TDN) in a separate round bale self feeder to supply protein and roughage??? Any ideas or experience to share?

I have an uncle that finishes all his calves on self feed. He mixes his own ration. Rolled barley, a 32% protein/rumensin supplement, calcium carbonate(I think?), and maybe some added salt and or mineral. I don't know the exact proportions.
He just tows his creep-feeders(gates removed) into his feedlot and uses them as self-feeders. For roughage he just keeps a couple of bale rings full of good quality oat straw or something similar.
Seems to work for him.

 

[PPRM]

I have several friends that use Purina limiter/Corn and I think the ration ends up 15% Alfalfa....

They both find cost of gain at $.47-50/cwt......High number of choice and Primes.....It may be one of my next steps, both have done it for several years,

PPRM