Advantages to Grinding
SAVE 20% TO 50% ON YOUR HAY
In free choice feeding, when stacks or large round bales are set in open area, cattle may waste from 20% to 50% depending on weather and feed conditions. Grinding the roughage and feeding in bunks is less than 1% loss.
BETTER GAINS – UP TO 40%
University research has shown that feeding ground roughage can result in greater weight gains; from 20% to 40% when compared with the same amount of roughage fed unground.
BETTER PALATABILITY
Cattle are selective feeders and prefer to eat the most palatable portions of feed supply first. Grinding allows the mixing of poor and better quality materials during the actual grinding process. Mixing in this manner means the cattle are more likely to eat all the materials offered.
EASIER TO HANDLE
Ground roughage is a more manageable form for conveyor equipment and feed bunks, so less waste occurs during handling and feeding. Also labor requirements are less.
IMPROVE QUALITY
Poor quality roughage shows increased value when ground, especially when blended with good quality materials.
EASIER BLENDING
Roughage can be directly blended with the other supplements and ingredients in a blender box for a better balanced ration.
HEALTHIER ANIMALS
Mixture of dry ground roughage with silage provides a much better balanced diet.
GRIND IS BETTER
Do your own grinding as needed rather than using commercial grinding in large quantities.
DAIRY / MILK PRODUCTION
When feeding fresh ground hay to dairy cows, milk production will improve 10% to 15% over feeding unground, free choice hay.