Feeding Wet Corn Gluten Feed?

[Scott Piggott]

Whats a good cheap ration mix to put with wet corn gluten feed? The feed is costing me $40 per metric ton (2204.6 lbs) and I am wondering if I can get away with feeding mainly that with a bit of high power wstern hay or even local hay and some soymeal or something. I want to keep my cost per head per day down, and use a smuch of this as I can if it will work and not burn out the steer. Any sugestions or lessons learned with this stuff?

[David Ernst]

I have been using it for the last 5 years.  It is high in protien and phosphorus.  Don't add additoinal protien, make sure you keep that in check.  Also, watch your phosphorus levels, there is a special co product mineral made by most feed companies that has low phosphorus and high calcium.  It is cheaper that the regular mineral as well.  Gluten also contains quite abit of energy.  Rations would vary for dry cows, lactating cows, growing feeder calves or  finishing cattle.  Ususally protien percentages in the ration are the limiting factor in how much is used. 

[Brady Smith]

What is the analysis of the gluten you are feeding? What are you feeding it to? If you are growing cattle, you will get along damn good with hay and gluten.....I personally wouldn't push the gluten more than 40% of your ration on a dry matter basis no matter what your feeding it to. If the cattle are a little bigger, it my not hurt to supplement a little corn also. Just my opinion.

[Joe Miller]

That's a very fair price the way corn prices are over $7/bu in se Iowa. Another limiting factor could be sulfur levels-don't be above .4-.5% on a DM basis, otherwise you could be looking at polio issues. You also need enough head to be able to keep ahead of the wet gluten, otherwise there's spoiling issues. What area are you in and what plant did you get your wet gluten?