Ok, I know that this is going to seem a strange post to non-farmers and it will I hope make perfect sense to those that farm.. or maybe I should give the non-farmers more credit..
So, I buy my feed from a local feed store, I have two choices, the closest one, has a contract for their grains locally, and by local, they mean Ontario, their grains come pre-done in 55 pound bags. I have at times found corn in with my other grains, or sometimes, I have had cracked scatch bags (mixed ground grains) that seem under grown or over ground, or even worse, so powdery that I can’t help but think it was sweepings that topped up that bag..
Then there is the local co-op, now you would think to a point that this would be a even better choice, but the price is much higher and the grains are from both Ontario and quebec, and my critters don’t seem to do as well on their grains, plus I have had issues with some of the ground grains smelling off.. sigh.
Now, I can get to a third feed store and they sell purina, which I am the first to admit that the animals do well on.. sorry but its the truth, their bags sizes are 55 pounds and they are even higher in cost now.. bags that cost 11 to 13 two years ago can cost up to 20 dollar now..
I don’t mind paying for quality, but I also have a issue with some of the things that goes in Purina, and I really don’t like that they seem to adjust their forumla’s based on price costs. Plus they are really processed foods, and ideally I prefer to feed as natural as possible.
So when I found a source of locally produced grains (oats, corn, wheat and soy) where I could get horse, cow, pig, chicken feed, I could have jumped for joy, not only was I allowed to see the whole grains, they are a thing of beauty, to run my fingers though those grains, well to be honest they warmed my heart a little, and that joy just exploded as I listened to the farmer who grew them talk.. his pride in what he grows darn near makes him glow..
Then comes the fact that he can grind the grain himself and that the soy is cooked and done just down the road, as he points to that farm, and yesterday I picked up my first full order (he had given me a half bag to try and see if I like it, the birds went crazy for it!), it was awesome, first off, the price was in line with my most reasonable feed store, but! the grains where of top quality, and unlike the others where they have best before dates to show how long they have sat between grinding and use.. these amazing bags of feed, had been ground just two or a day before I picked them up..
The horse oats are a thing of beauty.. Very pleased to have found this, it will be a very good thing indeed for my farm! Do you source your grains locally, and if so just how local? Are you one of the lucky ones that grows and harvest’s your own.
Just another Day on the Farm 
Very jealous! I seem to have very limited options here in the Lower Mainland of BC – but do not have nearly as many animals as you do! I grew out three types of heritage barley and three types of heritage wheat this year in my backyard garden, along with non-GMO soy. Wanted to experiment with feeding green, see how the plants did, and collect seed for future, larger plots of land when we have some *real* property. I also grow and harvest rye through the winter months for fresh feeding. My commercial, organic hen scratch is ok, and I give it to my rabbits as a ‘treat’ as well (I don’t have *any* options about the 16% pellets I have for them), but my oat/barley mix has mites, and I don’t really want to give that to the bunnies now. I can’t afford to throw out feed at this cost, and my animals can’t go through a full bag of feed in 2 weeks – nor would it be feasible to make the 2-hour round trip to pick up feed each time (and how long has the feed store had it?!?).
wow, that’s awesome that you grew as many types of grains as you did, I hear you on the non-gmo soy but how did you find the harvesting and cooking process to make it useable?
Rabbits are harder, thankfully they can do well on hay, garden veggies but yes, I like you do a certain amount of feeder pellets always as well.
That is to bad about the mites, that is a long trip to get to the feed store.. might be worth considering getting a grain grinder (a small one) as whole grains can keep for so much longer then ground ones do.
To be honest, there were so few in my experimental plot, I fed the rabbits the whole plants before the pods had completely filled out. They ate every last bit, and I would likely use at least some of a larger plot for fresh feeding in the future. 🙂
We find that without a high percentage of the pellets, our rabbits don’t size up well for butchering (could be the breed, Florida Whites) – but the adults love (and expect) their branches, grass, and garden gleanings.
I have a hand-crank antique coffee grinder, and a grain/corn grinder somewhere in storage, so I will be experimenting this fall and winter. Local interest is increasing in cooperative organic grain growing (kind of like a CSA), so I may soon be able to source some of my inputs as well.
Hi D-L. I had to laugh at your excitement. Not in a mean way but I see where you are coming from. Since Lagsi’s pancreatic attack the vet has had him on expensive tin food once a day with some hard chow as well. When Lagsi sees me coming with the tin and I start to open it, he cries. He is so excited. How can I not give my 13 yr old guy something that makes him so happy. One of these days I will peel off the label and take it to PetSmart to see if they have something comparable but cheaper.
Glad your old boy still loves his chow and yes, I am the same, little treats are a regular thing for the older dogs.
Ok, I am so, so green with envy! What a find! Congratulations!
Thanks Kodi, I am so very pleased, I will look forward to when my numbers come down as fall butcher happens so that I can ideally do a once a month pickup over the winter 🙂
OOH! That looks like food! I’ve always thought that some of the stuff they give the animals on the farms I’ve visited looked off. Not what I remember from my families’ farms and not what animals like that should be eating. That stuff that you’ve got, it looks RIGHT.
I hear you, I am not found of paying top dollar for a so-so feed but when its all you can find, you do it and then fuss around trying to make sure you can get the rest to the critters in different ways, so to have a source with good clean grain.. fab!
I’d be excited too, that’s great!
I don’t feed my cows grain and my pigs are still a side-line so I don’t need much, but establishing a good quality, affordable grain source that can produce on a reliable basis has slowed my commitment to pork, chicken and turkey projects and caused me to try growing some of my own.
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I’m more talented with livestock than crops.
Thanks Auburn
I hear you, when the price last spring went up so so high on grains, I had to cull my regular bird flocks sizes by half to keep the monthly feed bill the same.. which is just sad..
I look forward to your reports on growing your own.
Don’t hold your breath, as I say, I’m obviously more talented with the animals 😀