Ever had the elevator mess with your mix?

[Wisteria Farms]

Here's one thats rubbed me the wrong way...
I got a feed mix from a friend (you know who you are :tiphat: )
The first batch I have mixed looks great...
Second batch is really powdery and the cows turn up their nose for abit...
I go for the third batch and mention to the guys mixing "how much molasses is in that bucket?"...they say I'm getting all my molasses...its pretty heavy. But its still powdery.
I go for the fourth load and tell the owner to pull my recipe. He lays it on the counter and instead of having 50lbs molasses SOMEONE has scratched it out and put 30lbs.
I confront him about it and he says "I wouldn't have changed it without being told to"... well I'm the only one picking up feed and I KNOW I didn't tell him to do it.
So I made him correct it. He says my cows are spoiled. I say "maybe. But I don't need my steer going off grain when I'm trying to help my kid get "rate of gain". When I take the ticket out to have it bagged the guy takes the same 'ol bucket of molasses... doesn't look like any more added. I haven't unloaded it yet to see if it looks any different but I'm frankly PO'd that he took it upon himself to change my order!!!! And, why? Is there a world shortage on molasses that I don't know about?

 

[ALX.]

I try to buy as little as I can, prefer to mix my own, but you see wide variance in our mills feeds.
Sometimes they must have a different guy running the mill because the grind is so different.

Last load ( 4 tons ) of straight corn grain I got from them had purina pellets in it ??

If they put a bag out that said "Floor Sweepings" on it I'd buy it if it was cheap. At least it was labelled honestly! :lol:

 

[1982vett]

Don't know how many different screen sizes your mill uses, but to small screen size (diameter of holes in the grinding screen) for the grain you are grinding will produce a lot of powder. Such as grinding corn with a milo screen.

If your mix uses several different grains, the fellow running the mill/mixer might be to lazy to change to the proper screen for each grain. Just a thought. However cutting the amount of molassas without you telling them to is just plain wrong.

 

[kerley]

I remember when a mans word was his bond. Things have changed. Today you just don't know who to trust. Just my thoughts, Tom

 

[bigbull338]

well sounds to me like they mightve ran out of molases.but i highly doubt that.or 1 of the feed mixers didnt want to put the right amount in.but im bettting they made a slight change to your feed for some1 else.

 

[Jogeephus]

I bet you were billed for 50lbs. Some people will sell their soul for a dime.

 

[Wisteria Farms]

No, I wasn't billed for it (I checked). And I realize the molasses is just for palatability but if I want 50lbs, I should get 50lbs. Period. Its my choice whether my cattle are "spoiled" or not... not his. Seeing that he scratched out my 50 lbs and made it 30 just infuriates me to the point of switching elevators. Not that it'll put a dent in the business he does (he monopolizes the local grain business) but atleast I won't have a sour attitude every time I look at him.

 

[tom4018]

Here's one thats rubbed me the wrong way...
I got a feed mix from a friend (you know who you are :tiphat: )
The first batch I have mixed looks great...
Second batch is really powdery and the cows turn up their nose for abit...
I go for the third batch and mention to the guys mixing "how much molasses is in that bucket?"...they say I'm getting all my molasses...its pretty heavy. But its still powdery.
I go for the fourth load and tell the owner to pull my recipe. He lays it on the counter and instead of having 50lbs molasses SOMEONE has scratched it out and put 30lbs.
I confront him about it and he says "I wouldn't have changed it without being told to"... well I'm the only one picking up feed and I KNOW I didn't tell him to do it.
So I made him correct it. He says my cows are spoiled. I say "maybe. But I don't need my steer going off grain when I'm trying to help my kid get "rate of gain". When I take the ticket out to have it bagged the guy takes the same 'ol bucket of molasses... doesn't look like any more added. I haven't unloaded it yet to see if it looks any different but I'm frankly PO'd that he took it upon himself to change my order!!!! And, why? Is there a world shortage on molasses that I don't know about?

We have had problems with our local mill, mostly the guys mixing forget to put something in it. I have to watch them when they are mixing it as I have caught the shorting me something several times. My biggest gripe is the mix never looks the same with the same ingredients. My cows/calves have turned up their noses and walked away from it before. Started buying somewhere else for a while but with fuel prices I came back. I need to buy a bulk bin as I get get it trucked in about $40 a ton cheaper. They give no discount for bulk. I like to support local business but they are too high on feed compared to others around here.

 

[grannysoo]

Not me specially, but we have one local bunch that I don't buy from anymore. Depends on what day of the week you buy feed as to the contents. I had been noticing each batch looked different and got to paying close attention to the contents. The final straw for me was when the last batch didn't have any corn in it. 0% corn is not going to be the "corn fed" beef that I was looking for.

My new supplier is consistant.

 

[TexasBred]

Wisteria from the way you describe the operation I'd be suspicious of any and all feed they made. Especially when their employees measure molasses or anything else for that matter in a bucket. I'd be curious as to how they measure other ingredients as well.

 

[Wisteria Farms]

Wisteria from the way you describe the operation I'd be suspicious of any and all feed they made. Especially when their employees measure molasses or anything else for that matter in a bucket. I'd be curious as to how they measure other ingredients as well.

I AM suspicious and its made me a not too popular customer... I get the feeling like "how dare she question what we do"...If I had acres and acres of corn I was bringing in or buying feed regularly by the ton I think they'd mix in cheerios if I asked them... but who's to say I won't one day be the biggest cattle producer in the county? They don't know so I just think its bad business...Tommy Ruyle... who are you using? (pm me if you'd rather)

 

[Wisteria Farms]

to small screen size (diameter of holes in the grinding screen) for the grain you are grinding will produce a lot of powder. Such as grinding corn with a milo screen. If your mix uses several different grains, the fellow running the mill/mixer might be to lazy to change to the proper screen for each grain.

The vet told me once that a nearby farm was grinding their own corn and got it too fine... said they spent all day out there tubing one calf after another due to bloat... said it was a real mess. So... if the elevator is too lazy to change screens doesn't that pose a risk to your cattle? Just wondering.

 

[TexasBred]

to small screen size (diameter of holes in the grinding screen) for the grain you are grinding will produce a lot of powder. Such as grinding corn with a milo screen. If your mix uses several different grains, the fellow running the mill/mixer might be to lazy to change to the proper screen for each grain.

The vet told me once that a nearby farm was grinding their own corn and got it too fine... said they spent all day out there tubing one calf after another due to bloat... said it was a real mess. So... if the elevator is too lazy to change screens doesn't that pose a risk to your cattle? Just wondering.

Most of the feed mills I've worked with only have a couple of different screens they will use, one being a very fine grind that will be used in pelleted feeds and then more of a corn chop which can be used in textured or meal type feed. Some may just grind everything up very fine. The "fine grind' would be awfully dusty and bulky without molasses or fat added and 50 lbs. per ton of molasses would hardly do anything but give it a good smell. Ask them to use chopped corn in the mix. At least you should be able to see it and it won't be nearly as dusty.

 

[ALX.]

So... if the elevator is too lazy to change screens doesn't that pose a risk to your cattle? Just wondering.

You bet. Especially if you don't have a bit of experience introducing hot feeds.

My hammer mill makes corn look like flour with chips of shell mixed in. The cattle love it but you gotta go real slow getting them on it.

Why is it that we can't get what we pay for any more?

 

[TexasBred]

That fine ground corn shouldn't hurt anything as long as the cattle are also getting plenty of roughage to go with it and you're not giving all that corn to them in one big slug feeding session. If those folks are suppose to me mixing you a "custom feed" based on your formulation and are charging you for such then you should get exactly what you ordered. Some just can't resist the opportunity to make changes or cut corners in order to make a few dollars more. Someday you may be that BIG operator and they'll wish they had treated you right.