6 Best Grain Rollers For Cattle Feed That Old Farmers Swear By

You can tell a lot about a farmer by the sound of their grain mill running first thing in the morning. It’s a rhythm of self-sufficiency, a sign that they’re not just feeding their animals, but nourishing them. Choosing the right roller mill isn’t about buying the newest or biggest piece of equipment; it’s about investing in the health of your herd and the efficiency of your chores.

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Why Freshly Rolled Grain Improves Cattle Health

The difference between feeding whole kernels and freshly rolled grain is like the difference between giving a person a raw potato versus a baked one. Rolling, or cracking, the grain breaks the hard outer hull, exposing the nutritious starches inside. This simple act dramatically increases digestibility, allowing a cow’s rumen to access more energy and protein from every mouthful.

You’ll see the results not just on paper, but in the pasture. Cattle fed rolled grain tend to have better body condition, a healthier coat, and more consistent weight gain. It also reduces waste, as animals are less likely to sort through their feed and leave whole kernels behind. This isn’t about chasing maximum production; it’s about getting the full value from the feed you grow or buy.

Some folks think grinding grain into a fine powder is even better, but that’s a common mistake for cattle. A fine grind can lead to digestive upset and acidosis because it ferments too quickly in the rumen. Rolling creates a coarse, cracked texture that provides the perfect balance of digestibility and "scratch factor," keeping the rumen healthy and functioning as it should.

C.S. Bell Model 60: The Cast-Iron Workhorse

There’s a reason you find these old cast-iron mills tucked away in barns that have seen three generations of farmers. The C.S. Bell is less a machine and more a piece of farm heritage. It’s heavy, slow, and built with a simplicity that is almost impossible to find in modern equipment.

Its main advantage is its sheer indestructibility. With thick cast-iron plates and simple grease fittings, there isn’t much that can go wrong, and what does can usually be fixed with a wrench and some common sense. These mills are often powered by a flat belt from a small electric motor or an old tractor, making them adaptable to whatever power source you have.

The tradeoff is speed. This is not the mill for someone feeding 50 head of cattle before sunrise. It’s a deliberate, methodical machine that rewards patience. But if you value reliability over speed and want a piece of equipment you can pass down to your kids, a well-maintained C.S. Bell is an unmatched investment.

Automatic Roller Mill 500: Consistent & Fast

For the farmer who needs to get chores done efficiently, the modern automatic roller mill is the answer. These machines are designed for speed and consistency, using powerful electric motors and precision-machined rollers to process a lot of grain in a short amount of time. They often come with features like magnetic gates to catch stray metal and adjustable roller gaps you can set with the turn of a knob.

The key benefit here is repeatable results. Once you find the perfect crack for your oats or barley, you can get that exact same texture every single time. This consistency is great for animal health, as it prevents sudden dietary changes that can upset a cow’s digestive system. It’s the "set it and forget it" option for grain processing.

Of course, this convenience comes with complexity. There are more moving parts, more electronics, and more things that can potentially break. Repairing an automatic mill might mean ordering a specific part instead of fixing it yourself with something you have on hand. It’s a fantastic tool, but it demands a different kind of maintenance than the old cast-iron classics.

Farmhand PTO Mill: Power Take-Off Reliability

If you already have a tractor, a PTO-driven mill is one of the most practical choices you can make. It leverages your biggest investment—the tractor—to power your grain processing. There’s no need to run electricity out to a grain bin or worry about a separate motor; you just back up the tractor, hook up the PTO shaft, and get to work.

These mills are built tough to handle the torque from a tractor. They offer tremendous power and throughput, making quick work of even large batches of grain. This makes them ideal for farmers who process feed once or twice a week for a moderately sized herd. The mobility is another huge plus; you can move the mill wherever you need it.

The obvious consideration is that you need a running tractor to use it. If your tractor is down for repairs, so is your grain mill. It also means running a large diesel engine for a relatively small task, which might not be the most fuel-efficient choice for very small daily batches. But for sheer power and convenience, a PTO mill is hard to beat.

Big Horn G-10: Built for Larger Small Herds

Once your herd grows beyond a dozen head, you start to feel the limitations of smaller mills. The Big Horn G-10 and models like it fill the gap between homesteader equipment and commercial machinery. It’s built for the serious hobby farmer or small-scale producer who needs to process several hundred pounds of grain efficiently.

These mills typically feature larger hoppers, wider rollers, and more powerful direct-drive electric motors. The construction is heavy-duty steel, not cast iron, designed for daily use without wearing out. They can handle a wider variety of grains, from small barley to large corn kernels, with easy adjustments.

This isn’t a beginner’s mill. It represents a significant step up in both cost and capacity. But if you find yourself spending an hour every day running a smaller mill, upgrading to a machine of this scale can give you that time back. It’s an investment in efficiency for a farm that’s growing.

Goliath R9 Roller: Simple, Tough, and Effective

Some of the best equipment is the simplest. The Goliath R9 is the epitome of a no-frills, overbuilt roller mill. It usually consists of two steel rollers, a simple frame, a hopper, and a direct-drive motor—and not much else.

There are no fancy adjustments or automatic shutoffs. You set the roller gap with a pair of wrenches, and you turn it on and off with a simple switch. This lack of features is its greatest strength. It’s incredibly reliable because there are so few points of failure. If it breaks, the problem is usually obvious and easy to fix.

This is the perfect mill for someone who doesn’t want to fuss with complicated machinery. It produces a consistent, quality product day in and day out. It may not be the fastest or the most precise, but it will almost certainly be running twenty years from now, which is a quality that’s hard to put a price on.

Homesteader’s Choice No. 2: For Small Operations

Not everyone is feeding a herd of beef cattle. For the homesteader with a family milk cow, a few goats, or a pair of steers for the freezer, a large, powerful mill is complete overkill. The Homesteader’s Choice No. 2 is a small-scale mill designed for just these situations.

These mills are often hand-cranked or can be fitted with a small, half-horsepower electric motor. They are compact, affordable, and perfect for processing a five-gallon bucket of grain at a time. They give you all the health benefits of freshly rolled grain without the expense or footprint of a larger machine.

The primary tradeoff is, of course, volume and effort. Processing 100 pounds of grain with a hand-crank mill is a serious workout. Even with a small motor, it’s a slow process. But for the smallholder, where the goal is quality and self-sufficiency over quantity and speed, this little mill is often the perfect fit.

Choosing Your Mill: Herd Size and Power Source

Picking the right mill comes down to an honest assessment of your farm’s needs. Don’t buy a mill for the herd you hope to have in five years; buy for the herd you’re feeding right now. The two biggest factors are your herd size and your available power source.

Start by thinking about volume. How much grain do you need to process each day or each week? This will guide your decision more than anything else.

• 1-5 Head: A small hand-crank or small electric mill like the Homesteader’s Choice is perfect.
• 5-20 Head: A reliable, mid-size mill like the C.S. Bell or the simple Goliath R9 will serve you well.
• 20-50 Head: You should consider a higher-throughput model like the Big Horn G-10 or a powerful Farmhand PTO Mill to save time.

Next, consider your power source. Don’t create a new problem by buying a mill you can’t easily operate. If you have a reliable tractor that’s always handy, a PTO mill is a fantastic option. If your grain storage is near an outlet, a 220-volt electric mill like the Automatic 500 offers push-button convenience. If you’re off-grid or want ultimate simplicity, a flat-belt-driven or hand-crank model is your best bet. The right machine is the one that fits seamlessly into your existing workflow.

Ultimately, a grain roller is more than just a piece of farm equipment; it’s a tool that connects you directly to the health of your animals. By taking the time to process your own feed, you’re making a conscious choice for quality over convenience. The right mill will make that daily chore not just efficient, but deeply satisfying.