Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Arielle]

Here's a question.

Is it true that turning your feeding into FF and adding the corn and oats depletes the protein count in the feed?

If I was in feeds class this would be a trick question!!

THe total amount of protein increases; the % protein may decrease.

For example. IF you have 100 pounds of 22% complete feed, that is 22 pounds of corn for every 100 pounds of feed.

If you add 50 pounds of corn, that is a total of 150 pounds of feed, protein is 22 pounds + 4 pounds from the corn = 26 pounds of protein ; someone can do the math 26 / 150 = % protein.

Therefore, the answer is yes-- the % protein in the diet is decreased IF you feed the same number of pounds of feed. However, the purpose of fermented feeds, as I understand it, and please anyone, feel free to correct me, is that the proteins become more available for use during digestion.


Corn and oats are lower in protein than most milled feeds because most milled feeds contain soybean meal which is the predominant vegatable source of protein. It is about 45% protein. So a 22 % protein feed has about 25 pounds of SBM in a 50 # bag. corn 8 % protein, oats about 10%, SBM 45%, brewers grains about 35%. BLood meal used to be used, not sure if it is anymore; I don't see it in my feeds anymore, and no tallow either.

These are just simple illustrations to demonstrate the general idea.

 

[tjbeckman]

THis is a great starting point. Understand these numbers are on a dry matter basis =As you would buy pellets or shell corn or feed oats. Once you add water, the dry matter doesn't change but the weight does. My point is wet feed is not equal to dry feed by weight.

That is where I am curious, sorry wasn't really sure how to word it. Once it has been soaked did you find you were using 75% of what you did before, 50%? Just curious what others experienced. Thanks!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I think this is a great question. My birds free range so the numbers will be squewed. Hopefully someone with penned birds has tracked this.

 

[WRVgirl]

If I was in feeds class this would be a trick question!!

THe total amount of protein increases; the % protein may decrease.

For example. IF you have 100 pounds of 22% complete feed, that is 22 pounds of corn for every 100 pounds of feed.

If you add 50 pounds of corn, that is a total of 150 pounds of feed, protein is 22 pounds + 4 pounds from the corn = 26 pounds of protein ; someone can do the math 26 / 150 = % protein.

Therefore, the answer is yes-- the % protein in the diet is decreased IF you feed the same number of pounds of feed. However, the purpose of fermented feeds, as I understand it, and please anyone, feel free to correct me, is that the proteins become more available for use during digestion.


Corn and oats are lower in protein than most milled feeds because most milled feeds contain soybean meal which is the predominant vegatable source of protein. It is about 45% protein. So a 22 % protein feed has about 25 pounds of SBM in a 50 # bag. corn 8 % protein, oats about 10%, SBM 45%, brewers grains about 35%. BLood meal used to be used, not sure if it is anymore; I don't see it in my feeds anymore, and no tallow either.

These are just simple illustrations to demonstrate the general idea.

FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC.

You're getting some ovation for that answer! LOL

Thanks so much for breaking it down....that literally explained everything. Woo hoo! I'm no longer lost

 

[Eggcessive]

We have a Big R here that carries that small bag as well. You might try asking your store to order it for you. They might require you to have an order number. If so, let me know and I will call my Big R to find out. Also, I wouldn't use flock raiser unless it specifically says it is safe to feed to chicks. The calcium could be too high.

Flock raiser doesn't have the high calcium that layer has. It is just that--food for the whole flock--chicks, layers, and roosters. Most of the time it is 20% protein and is practically identical to chick crumbles.

 

[WRVgirl]

I just ran out for more feed.

My flock raiser [from southern states] is 18% protein
My layer feed [same brand] only has 16% protein.

I wonder why the protein count is lower for the layer feed than the babies. I would think it would be consistently the same.

Oh well, I'll just have to get a couple shaker bottles from GNC and start giving the girls vanilla protein shakes in the morning. LMAO.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I just ran out for more feed.

My flock raiser [from southern states] is 18% protein
My layer feed [same brand] only has 16% protein.

I wonder why the protein count is lower for the layer feed than the babies. I would think it would be consistently the same.

Oh well, I'll just have to get a couple shaker bottles from GNC and start giving the girls vanilla protein shakes in the morning. LMAO.

Babies need higher protein for growth. 16% for laying hens is the very minimum they need to be able to lay eggs and stay alive for a little while.

 

[WRVgirl]

But if 16% is the minimum, why wouldn't they just keep the feed at 18% all the way across the board? Our chick started and layer feed is the same price....
Seems kind of sheisty of the feed stores....

 

[WRVgirl]

Sorry, not feed stores, but manufacturers of feed. lol

 

[kian]

Ok, I have a question. I just got some day olds on Saturday and I bought chick starter for them and started the ferment. It's separated, like... say what oil and water would do, there is a layer of water and then the feed. My other FF never did that, still looks awesome and bubbly. So I looked at the bag of chick feed and noticed I got the medicated.

Would that cause the separation?

Thank you!