Feed spoilage in gravity wagon

Steve Metcalfe · Jul 16, 2021

Have a 125 bushel gravity wagon that I fill with ground feed to feed to my calves. I keep it in a lean to on my barn with a tarp over it as can get wet with a blowing rain and to keep the racoons out. Builds up heat and have spoilage. Is there something else I could cover it with that would allow it to breathe but still repel water?

rrlund · Jul 16, 2021

I don't know that I'd even cover it. If I did, it would be something that's up off it so it can breath. I keep a load of seed oats every year, back it in a lean to open to the west. I used to put a tarp over it to keep rain and snow off it, but always had some spoilage. I quit covering it and haven't had any spoilage. It sits from July until April.

Janicholson · Jul 16, 2021

Moisture content should be controlled when being ground to limit the storage decay. I also agree that ventilation is critical. Anhand earth auger could be used to bring up the feed and mix it from the decay prone area to the top. doing that might take 10 minutes every month or so. Jim
one type.

paul · Jul 16, 2021

What is the moisture of the corn or other grain? We always had problems with fresh ear corn, could only grind 5 days worth, as the 20+ % moisture corn would heat bad when ground.

In general we could only keep ground feed 2 weeks, it just didnt keep well with the seed coat opened up, even if it didnt heat much when dry. Probably some preservative to add if you want to travel down that road....

Paul

BarnyardEngineering · Jul 16, 2021

Build a frame around the top of the wagon like bin extensions but use mesh to allow for airflow.

onefarmer · Jul 16, 2021

I don't cover mine with anything. Open sided shed. Keeps good in the cooler weather but in the warmer I just grind less at a time and use it up faster. It keeps me ahead of any spoilage.

NY 986 · Jul 16, 2021

Keep ground feed to one week in advance at the most. Once corn, soybeans, etc. is ground it will draw moisture. I see no way around that given your storage system.

Steve Metcalfe · Jul 16, 2021

Thanks for all the replies guys. I agree that not covering it would be the best solution for air movement. Wonder if the varmints would get into it not being covered. I could cover the front few feet of the wagon and leave the back half open, I think that would keep the water off.

centash · Jul 16, 2021

Use a screen to keep critters out yet allow airflow. The other responses are right, though, once you grind feed you reduce its storage life considerably.

Ben

Fred Werring · Jul 16, 2021

I'll buy 2-3 tons of feed at a time during the winter, storing in a gravity bed with no issues. But then the feed gets used in a month or so.

Learned not to have a bunch of feed in the summer 'cause of what you found...it spoils.

Summertime I don't use much feed, I'll buy bagged and not much more than needed at a time. Always got to have a few bags on hand in case I need to get the cows up to the barn.

I couldn't keep the coons out of my wagon with a tarp, they would eat through it. Framed up a cover with 2x4's and steel siding to cover the wagon. Used a boat winch and pulleys to lift it when it needs loaded. Never had a problem with, but still don't walk underneath while moving the wagon. And the lid gets lowered while waiting for the feed truck.

Fred

fixerupper · Jul 16, 2021

I dont know if there is any way around it. Like Paul said grain heats and molds easier after it is ground.

JMOR · Jul 16, 2021

(quoted from post at 19:15:00 07/16/21) I dont know if there is any way around it. Like Paul said grain heats and molds easier after it is ground.

........especially in a metal container that condenses the moisture during cooling of the normal hot/cold cycles. Notice the worst is always next to the metal, not out in middle?

VicS · Jul 16, 2021

I have a screw in mesh tube about 6 ft long. Has a 1/10 hp fan ducking on it. What it is made for. Don't know where you can get one today. Maybe Rural King.

caterpillar guy · Jul 17, 2021

To breathe easier you could use expanded metal usually steel and lay over the top to cover and keep varmints out. Mice would still get in unless you had small holes. Though after it got down some the mouse population would suffer from not being able to jump back out.

Feed spoilage in gravity wagon

Steve Metcalfe

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rrlund

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Janicholson

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paul

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BarnyardEngineering

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onefarmer

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NY 986

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Steve Metcalfe

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centash

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Fred Werring

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fixerupper

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JMOR

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VicS

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caterpillar guy

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