Straight Feed: Single Components for Your Own Cattle Ration

Straight Feed: Put the Ration Together Yourself

If you mix the ration yourself, you stay flexible. Straight feeds consist of one single component, a cereal for example, or a by-product of processing. That lets you react to the quality of your own forage and adjust energy, protein and structure exactly where needed. Here you will find cereals and by-products in various forms of processing for dairy cows, finishing cattle and young stock.

Cereals, flakes and by-products

Barley delivers plenty of energy and comes as meal, flakes or whole grain. Finely ground, it is broken down more quickly, while bruised and flaked goods are palatable and easy to digest. Cracked maize brings extra energy into the ration, and oats are considered gentle on the gut and are often used for young stock. Apple pomace is left over from juice production, adds structure to the trough and is taken up very well by most animals. Organic farms will find certified versions such as organic maize or organic barley.

Use, quantity and storage

Cereals are broken down quickly in the rumen. The rule is therefore simple: raise the amount slowly and spread it across the day, so that rumen health stays stable. Enough structure from hay or silage always belongs in the ration as well. Store meal and flakes dry, cool and protected against rodents, because damp goods spoil fast. Ground cereal loses quality more quickly than whole grain, so it is best to plan your quantities in manageable units. Before any larger change, it pays to look at the ration as a whole rather than at the single component.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly are straight feeds?
Feeds made up of one single component, for example barley, maize, oats or apple pomace. You buy them separately and mix them into the ration yourself.

Meal, flakes or whole grain?
Meal is broken down fastest, flakes are palatable and easy to digest, and whole grain keeps longer in store. The choice depends on your equipment and the group of animals.

How do I store cereals correctly?
Dry, cool and well ventilated, protected from rodents and birds. Use ground goods up more quickly than whole grain.