Custom Feed Mixed in West Texas?

[Tank]

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice as to where I could get custom feed mixed in west texas. My breeder gave me his recipe for feed as well as a little bit of feed to get along until I could get it mixed. I have checked with Mesa Feeds in clovis and a place in Lubbock but when I showed them the recipe they looked at me like I had two heads. They said they don't have a lot of these ingredients. So does anyone have any suggestions for places that may be able to mix a feed recipe with some not so common ingredients? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

 

[pjkjr4]

What do you consider "not so common ingredients"?

 

[Tank]

They told me they didn't carry Lasalocid, vitamins A B or D, potassium chloride, tasco, liquifat... Another challenge is being able to get it in manageable quantities. Hipro said they could mix it but I would have to order a minimum of 4000 pounds. Since im only feeding one calf its beginning to look like acquiring this feed is not going to be a reasonable goal.

 

[j3cattleco]

I am not taking anything away from the feed your breeder or feeds or the success he has probably had with it, but I don't understand the fascination with mixing your own feeds the majority of time.  We have done it in the past and the only time we had any luck is when we mixed it In a barrell with a feed mix similar to the one AAOK on here has.  I find most of the time too much inconsistenancy with small batches mixed at big feed companies.  There machines aren't designed to run even one ton at a time.  We have had way more success since we have switched to a bagged feed and have had cost savings due to better conversions also.  Just my opinion.  By the way I don't live too far from you and know exactly what mills you have discussed.

Joshua

 

[farmin female]

With one calf, go with a bagged feed.  You're not going to save that much money on one calf. 

 

[Tank]

I am not taking anything away from the feed your breeder or feeds or the success he has probably had with it, but I don't understand the fascination with mixing your own feeds the majority of time.  We have done it in the past and the only time we had any luck is when we mixed it In a barrell with a feed mix similar to the one AAOK on here has.  I find most of the time too much inconsistenancy with small batches mixed at big feed companies.  There machines aren't designed to run even one ton at a time.  We have had way more success since we have switched to a bagged feed and have had cost savings due to better conversions also.  Just my opinion.  By the way I don't live too far from you and know exactly what mills you have discussed.

Joshua

Hey Josh, thanks for the advice! What kind of bagged feed do you prefer? We have always used Hipro 291 in the past and have had ok results but nothing spectacular. Im now considering going with hipro 291 and supplimenting with Show Bloom.

 

[chambero]

We have our own feed mixed in our local mill near Wichita Falls.  It's not worth the trouble for one calf. 

There is nothing magical about any one breeder's personal mix.  If you want to have your own feed made, you have to work with your feed mill and their nutritionist (they all have one as a consultant if not on full-time staff), tell them what you want, and they will come up with a recipe based on the ingredients they have on hand.  That's how they can do it for you and save you money.

Did you know that the actual ingredients used to make Acco Showmaster varies from plant to plant?  The nutritional content doesn't, but the ingredients do. 

There are lots of good commercial feeds - HiPro being one of the best.  Using Hi Pro isn't going to be your limiting factor on how your calves do. 

 

[j3cattleco]

We feed Essential and love it!  We have fed Hi-Pro and have done well with it.  If you want more info on Essential pm me and we can discuss it.  Thanks


Joshua

 

[Tank]

Thanks to everyone for all the help! I looked up essential and I will keep looking into it.