Sweet Feed question

[S-Cackalacky]

I had less than ideal results with dry molasses . Too much cob filler in relation to actual molasses . I went to brown sugar as a substitute . 5 or 6 gallon buckets with locking lids make good stackable storage for individual grains . Sweet feed , itself, is prone to mold .
Sweet feed has become such a hit in my family that I had to put in a second 40 gal fermentor to get ahead of demand enough to have any to age or convert to fruit macerations .

Sorry to hear that about the dry molasses. I have a couple of local sources for it, but if it's junked up, I guess I'll pass.

I hear you on he 5 gal. buckets. That was my plan anyway.

Thanks,
S-C

Edit: TB, I was wondering - have you tried it with molasses? If so, how does it compare to what you make with brown sugar. I read somewhere once that brown sugar is nothing more that regular white (or raw) sugar with molasses mixed into it.

[S-Cackalacky]

I usually buy mycorn from TS but recently I bought one from the local feed store (blue seal) and I was far more happy with the quality of corn from the feed store. TS corn had a lot of junk in with it. Crappy cob and other junk which I wasn't happy with. I'd be interested in mixing the sweet feed with out the molasses. I've done the SF recipe before and it was good but I'm not sure how thrilled i was with the molasses in with it. I'd like to the Pepsi challenge with and with out molasses and see the difference.

I'd also consider running it all thru a grinder and doing the SF as an all grain. You can get 6 row cheap enough to convert it all.

I guess I need to get busy finding other sources besides TS. I've been going there for pricing because they're the most conveneint. But, as I get into this, I can see that I need to explore other options.

Thanks,
S-C

[S-Cackalacky]

We buy 1 ton of bulk sweet feed at a time on the ranch
store it in a big metal bin. Lasts us 6 months or so. I have never
had a spoilage problem - but then we are in really a very dry climate.
Never ending supply and of course no one ever asks what I want a
ton of sweet feed for.

Coyote

I think that might raise a little suspicion in my neighborhood. I'm assuming some little bit of that is goin' to the horses, right?

Just sayin',
S-C

[Truckinbutch]

S Cack ,
Haven't tried liquid molasses yet . Just been dancin with the gal what brung me since that's been workin rather well .

[jollyroger]

Well, I have the actual tag from one of the bags and the list of ingredients I put in my post is directly from that tag. I don't know - maybe it's just an inconsistency in the way they label their products.
S-C

Here is a scan of the tag...

[S-Cackalacky]

Jollyroger, that label is identical to the one I have with the exception of the list of ingredients. Whereas yours has a list of the actual grains, mine just says "Grain Products". Even the information printed vertically up the right edge of the label is identical. I'll do a scan of mine tomorrow and put it up here.

Thanks for posting the label scan,
S-C

[jollyroger]

Wow, so much for consistency... You would think that the labels would all be the same...

[S-Cackalacky]

Wow, so much for consistency... You would think that the labels would all be the same...

Sorry to take so long with this, but I had to figure out how to scan it and I haven't done that in ages. Anyway, looks like the only difference in this one and the one you posted is the list of ingredients.

Producer's Pride "All Grain" tag

S-C
Edit: Hope you can read it - not nearly as sharp as the one you posted.

[Radical2Squared]

I had to laugh at the logical solutions posted to this question (i.e. ask the store clerk to check the bag). Wish I had thought of that! Purchased two different bags, opened them bot at home, then ended up donating the bag with pellets mixed in to my neighbor's horses! The horses were happy, but I was out a few bucks.

[Jimbo]

Producers Pride 'All Grain' sweetfeed is also called 'Wet COB' by other producers. Wet (molasses added) and COB for corn, oats, barley.

In my experience its pretty heavy on the oats. And pretty light on the barley. The oats are whole, the corn and barley are crushed. The whole oats pass through my grain mill without much crush due to the other large corn chunks making it impossible to set the mill spacing properly to get at the oats.

Makes a nice hooch, I did an all grain with it, mashed it with malt and some other grains. But my yield was low, likely due to lots of whole oats in the mash, about 6 lbs per finished fifth of whiskey. I usually get a fifth per 3.5-4lbs with my AG's.

[ga flatwoods]

Just for kicks I called Producers Pride and quized them on their products, especially the scratch feed, telling them I raised "free range chickens and goats" and insist that there be no undesireable elements in the feed that might render my "free range" designstion voided. After assurrance that their feed would be fine for my use, I tried with my best diplomacy to coerce the grain percentages of each grain found in the scratch and sweet feed. They wouldnt tell me for hell just as well have been asking Colonel Sanders for his fried chicken seasoning recipe! Trade secret they said. Oh well, I tried. The engineer in me knows how to do this but it is not really worth the effort as it would be too easy to supplement any of the individual grains. It tastes so go as it is!
Ga Flatwoods

[S-Cackalacky]

Jimbo, I think I saw where someone else mentioned grinding their SF. I can see where this might be a desirable thing to do - especially if you wanted to mash. But, is it necessary when the objective is to flavor a sugar head?

Ga Flatwoods, I have to wonder if maybe it's more a case of CYA than keeping a recipe secret. Others have stated that percentages of grains in the mix may be governed by availability. There could also be some junk in there that they simply don't want you to know about - like corn cobs being ground up along with the corn kernels. Could be some other things in there that could be called "grain" by some stretch of the imagination. Maybe that's why the label I posted said, "grain products" instead of corn, oats and barley. Seems a little suspicious that they would change their ingredient list that way.

Thanks,
S-C

[Truckinbutch]

Jimbo, I think I saw where someone else mentioned grinding their SF. I can see where this might be a desirable thing to do - especially if you wanted to mash. But, is it necessary when the objective is to flavor a sugar head?

Ga Flatwoods, I have to wonder if maybe it's more a case of CYA than keeping a recipe secret. Others have stated that percentages of grains in the mix may be governed by availability. There could also be some junk in there that they simply don't want you to know about - like corn cobs being ground up along with the corn kernels. Could be some other things in there that could be called "grain" by some stretch of the imagination. Maybe that's why the label I posted said, "grain products" instead of corn, oats and barley. Seems a little suspicious that they would change their ingredient list that way.

Thanks,
S-C

You nailed it on the CYA . Only 'secret' there is to a standard mix of animal feed is what crap they put in that they don't want to admit to you . Money game and misdirection ; like most big bidness .

[Dnderhead]

" There could also be some junk in there that they simply don't want you to know about -"
Like chicken shit?? they used to use "chicken byproducts"but do to bird flew they had to stop.

[S-Cackalacky]

TB, you may have the best solution for avoiding this quandry - rollin' your own from the separate grains.

But Dndrhead, I thought chicken shit was a good thing - giving the yeasties a little extra bit of nutrient.

Just sayin',
S-C

[Truckinbutch]

I lost my chewin gum in the chicken yard once . Had to try 7 pieces before I found mine . By that time I'd lost all desire to chew gum and I still haven't regained it .

[S-Cackalacky]

I lost my chewin gum in the chicken yard once . Had to try 7 pieces before I found mine . By that time I'd lost all desire to chew gum and I still haven't regained it .

Know what you mean. Long time ago I worked in a wastewater treatment plant and dropped my wedding band in a huge pile of shit. Me and a couple of co-workers spent a half hour shovelin' and sifting to find that ring. To this day I won't lick it to remove it from my finger.

Just sayin',
S-C

[WIski]

TB Wrote;

Had to try 7 pieces before I found mine .

That my friend is a very ugly visual!!!!!!!! LMAO

[ga flatwoods]

Just lost all interest in tasting my wash! I was thinking soybeans, or other grains that sprout up from a previous years plantings! LOL

[S-Cackalacky]

Quit biteing my nails too.

Just sayin',
S-C

[YHB]

I am currently fermenting the first generation of a "sweetfeed" type wash of

Corn (50)%
Oats (15%)
Jumbo Oats (15%)
Wheat Flakes (7.5%)
Barley Flakes (7.5%)
Rye Flakes (5%)

For a 5 gallon wash I used;

One of these http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/ ... rodid=3653" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Half a jar of this http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/ ... 82&cid=556" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
And 1 Kilogram of Flaked Maize from the local HBS

With 4 KG of sugar it fermented out in 4 days and is starting to clear.

All very repeatable and not one pellet or any chicken "products" in sight.

[S-Cackalacky]

I am currently fermenting the first generation of a "sweetfeed" type wash of

Corn (50)%
Oats (15%)
Jumbo Oats (15%)
Wheat Flakes (7.5%)
Barley Flakes (7.5%)
Rye Flakes (5%)

For a 5 gallon wash I used;

One of these http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/ ... rodid=3653" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Half a jar of this http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/ ... 82&cid=556" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
And 1 Kilogram of Flaked Maize from the local HBS

With 4 KG of sugar it fermented out in 4 days and is starting to clear.

All very repeatable and not one pellet or any chicken "products" in sight.

Sounds like a good mix and the prices on that website seem pretty good too. I'm guessing you're in the UK - if so, "Holland and Barrett" would seem to be a good source for sweet feed ingredients.
S-C

[S-Cackalacky]

Well, I finally bought a bag of the all grain SF from Tractor Supply. I didn't see anything unusual in it, but then, I'm not sure I know what to look for. I did see what looked like some whole oat kernels, but most everything else was ground up pretty well. It seems to have a good coating of molasses and even had a few chunks of semi-dried molasses in it. All-in-all, I guess it looked pretty good.

I should finish up my pot still build pretty soon. Within the next week or so I hope to get a sugar wash ferment going to use as my sac run and maybe start up a SF ferment along with it so I can get my first real run going soon after the cleaning runs. It's amazing to finally start seeing a little light at the end of the tunnel. It's been a real pleasure learning from the nice folks here on this forum.

Thanks all,
S-C

[cornsqueezer]

Good Stillin S-C hope everything goes well for you.

[frodo]

something tells me this is not the right stuff.

will someone take a look please,

[Truckinbutch]

scan horse feed0001.jpg

something tells me this is not the right stuff.

will someone take a look please,

Geddaway frum dat ! The big box stores guarantee protein levels in their feeds . Market conditions dictate what they mix together to achieve that . They have a different agenda than our goal . Buy individual grains and molasses or brown sugar and mix your own grain bill . The term 'Sweet Feed' on a tag does not make that bag a magic potion .

[still_stirrin]

...Geddaway frum dat ! The big box stores guarantee protein levels in their feeds . Market conditions dictate what they mix together to achieve that . They have a different agenda than our goal . Buy individual grains and molasses or brown sugar and mix your own grain bill . The term 'Sweet Feed' on a tag does not make that bag a magic potion .

I agree with TB. That protein and fat content points towards animal byproducts...not something you need for your ferment. The vitamins and minerals certainly would help cell development, including yeast cells, so that's not so off-putting. But the protein and fat are used by animal metabolism for energy. Our ferments like carbohydrates (converted to starch and subsequently...sugars) for goodness.

Frodo, I think you could do worse than that sweet feed grain sack. But, as TB pointed out, you can do better.

If the price is right...and it's available, what's the harm in trying it? Worst case...it tastes crappy...or its cloudy...and you dump it. How much are you out? OK, so you lost time...what's your "going rate" right now?

I'd probably look around to see if I could find a better product. I know TSC sells cracked corn and rolled oats. Getcha' some malted barley from your LHBST and some molasses from the grocer and you're set to make your own (Frodo's special) sweet feed.
ss

[frodo]

Truckin Butch Still Stirr'n
That sounds like where i want to go, making my own recipe.
BUT, right now I am concentrating on the basics. so i followed moutain man hermits lead with the wallmart humana COB .
after a few runs. YES, I will be looking to make my own recipe.
got the rest of my stainless pieces in, 3 welds on the thumper, and she will be ready to clean and run a sacrifice

[frodo]

is this what you are talking about a tsc ?


http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/produc ... _vc=-10005

[FreeMountainHermit]

frodo, do you have Southern States stores in your area ?

https://www.southernstates.com/storelocations/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

No personal exp. with this product but it has been mentioned here @ HD as good stuff.

https://www.southernstates.com/catalog/ ... -50lb.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow