16% protein hog feed for meaties

[loanwizard]

I have a friend that sourced 16% protein hog feed at 16 cents per lb and raised his birds on it. 74 days and weighed out fine.

I am considering it as the withdrawal feed I use is only 18% and costs 25 cents lb.

On 100 birds using a ton of food, that is a $140.00 savings.

Thoughts?

 

[mnferalkitty]

Sounds like a plan to me. I don't see why not.

 

[KeilFamilyFarm]

following! i want to see what people have to say about this!

 

[loanwizard]

I am going to give it a shot since there were no OMG! you'll kill them, stunt their growth, poison them sort of replies and since I know of one person that has already done it.

I will let you know what happens.

Hopefully they won't oink

 

[Oregon Blues]

I would be looking at the ingredients, but if it is safe for hogs, it is most likely safe for chickens. The growth enhancer hog food made for the fair is extra-expensive, so that's not going to be a problem with the 16 cent a pound feed.

I suggest you keep close track of costs. You might get slower growth so will feed longer and buy more feed. It might end up cheaper, it might not. But with the large difference in cost and the small difference in protein, I would expect it to be cheaper.

I've never fed 16% feed to Cornish Cross, so I don't know how well it will work. I start mine on 28% and then they grow on a 20% feed. Personally, I wouldn't drop 4% for the savings, but you aren't making that big a drop in protein. Also, I am only growing for my own family, so profit isn't an issue. Everybody's situation is a little different.

It would be fun if you could maintain 2 pens and grow them on the 2 different feeds and compare costs, growth, and health,

 

[loanwizard]

I would be looking at the ingredients, but if it is safe for hogs, it is most likely safe for chickens. The growth enhancer hog food made for the fair is extra-expensive, so that's not going to be a problem with the 16 cent a pound feed.

I suggest you keep close track of costs. You might get slower growth so will feed longer and buy more feed. It might end up cheaper, it might not. But with the large difference in cost and the small difference in protein, I would expect it to be cheaper.

I've never fed 16% feed to Cornish Cross, so I don't know how well it will work. I start mine on 28% and then they grow on a 20% feed. Personally, I wouldn't drop 4% for the savings, but you aren't making that big a drop in protein. Also, I am only growing for my own family, so profit isn't an issue. Everybody's situation is a little different.

It would be fun if you could maintain 2 pens and grow them on the 2 different feeds and compare costs, growth, and health,

All true. My only difference is the meat withdrawal I use is only 18% so I am looking at 16% or only a 2% difference. Most importantly to me is the weight/feed ratio in that last 2 weeks.

 

[pioneerchick816]

Questions from a meat chicken newb...why is it important to back them off of protein towards the end (or after the first couple of weeks)?. Would they grow too fast if left on 24% the whole time? This is my third batch of meaties. Just wondering the reasons

 

[pioneerchick816]

Just looked at the dates on this

I'll ask else where, sorry

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Questions from a meat chicken newb...why is it important to back them off of protein towards the end (or after the first couple of weeks)?. Would they grow too fast if left on 24% the whole time? This is my third batch of meaties. Just wondering the reasons

Yes, they'd grow too fast and flop from weight. Turkey get a finisher too, lower protein/ lower price feed to hold them over until slaughter time.

 

[RollTideChicken]

Sorry just realized the OP was 2012...