Corn for cows - Angus Journal

1 corn for cows : It is often available and an economical source of energy PHOTOS BY SHAUNA ROSE HERMEL. for cows , but feed corn with caution. Supplement forage with a little bit, or make corn your primary feed ingredient. Anything in between could be @ South Dakota State University Extension beef specialist Cody Wright says corn can be an economi- counterproductive. cally viable alternative when the availability of standing or harvested forages is limited. But feeding corn to cows requires careful management if producers are to achieve the desired economy and ani- by Troy Smith mal performance. F ew things test a cow-calf producer's mettle more than an extended period of extremely dry weather. This year's drought We fed 6 pounds of corn and a pound of cake (high-protein range cubes) while the cows were on winter range.

2 We started I bought ear corn from a neighbor. It ended up costing about 30 a day per cow, . Trask says. I weighed a loader bucketful so gripped a large section of the Western and switching over to hay as the corn pile ran we could keep track of what we were Midwestern United States, putting a real low and had the cows on just hay and cake a feeding, and fed it with a manure spreader squeeze on forage resources. In some areas, couple of weeks ahead of calving time, with the beaters disconnected. I just fed it a lack of sufficient precipitation has Nachtigall explains. on the ground, and the cows cleaned it up pressured producers for two or three years. Satisfied with the resulting condition of pretty well. There wasn't much waste.. Faced with short pastures, tight supplies of the cows , and the economics, he says corn Trask fed about 5 pounds (lb.)

3 Of ear harvested forage and climbing hay prices, and cake will likely fill the forage gap again. corn daily, plus 3 4 lb. of protein supplement drought-stricken producers wrestled with and 10 lb. of oat hay. On that diet, his cows hard decisions, including weaning calves Figuring the economics gained weight, increasing 1-11 2 body early, reducing cow numbers and finding We're looking at $100 a ton, or more, to condition scores (BCS) in 60-70 days. alternative sources of feed. buy extra hay, so we'll continue to use corn South Dakota State University (SDSU). Near Owanka, , Dean Nachtigall and to make the most of what grazing or hay we Extension beef specialist Cody Wright says his wife, Margaret, decided a year ago to use have, Nachtigall adds.

4 corn can be an economically viable corn to stretch their limited forage supplies. Most years, grazing the range and alternative when the availability of standing Thanks to an open winter, the Nachtigalls' supplementing with cake provide early- or harvested forages is limited and commercial Angus cows had access to some winter fare for Casey Trask's cow herd, with especially when the cost of low- to winter range, which they supplemented little hay fed until January. Last winter, medium-quality hay reaches $80-$100 per with corn fed on the sod. At the time, the however, the Creighton, , cattleman ton. And in many areas, corn is the most corn 's price, on a per ton basis, was knew his hay supply wouldn't last until readily available source of supplemental comparable to that of hay.

5 However, corn green grass. Supplementing with corn energy. But feeding corn to cows requires contains nearly twice the energy or total looked cheap compared to buying careful management if producers are to digestible nutrients (TDN) of prairie hay. additional hay at elevated prices. CONTINUED ON PAGE 132. October 2002 ANGUSJ ournal 131. Feed a Little or a Lot CONTINUED FROM PAGE 131. achieve the desired economy and animal amounts no greater than of cow stimulate the rumen. A nutritionist can performance. body weight. This equates to lb. of corn assist with balancing the rations per day for a 1,000-lb. cow, 3 lb. for a 1,200- appropriately for cow maintenance or Manage it carefully lb. cow, and lb. for a 1,400-lb. cow. These weight gain. A nutritionist also may According to Wright, research has shown recommendations are based on whole- recommend the addition of an ionophore to that the addition of corn to a forage-based shelled corn .

6 Ear corn can be supplemented the ration. diet can depress forage intake and at slightly higher levels: , and Wright warns that limit-feeding of cows digestibility, because increased levels of starch lb. per day for 1,000-, 1,200- and 1,400-lb. is not for everyone. It takes more (from the corn ) alter rumen microflora and cows , respectively. management and labor. Adequate facilities the fermentation process. The effect of corn You can add energy by feeding 3 or 4 and equipment will be needed, including supplementation on cow performance may pounds of corn , but feeding more might enough feedbunks to allow about 30 inches be dependent on the level of protein in the actually decrease the availability of energy (in.) of bunk space per cow. diet.

7 Supplementation with a readily from forage, Wright explains. And Along with the ability to store and deliver degradable protein source may reduce or depending on forage quality, as well as the feed, this strategy usually requires a drylot or even eliminate corn 's negative effect on fiber stage of production and body condition of sacrifice pasture with secure fences. Limit- digestibility and improve performance. the cows , supplemental protein may also be fed cattle receive a ration designed to meet There are no easy answers as to what required. Analysis of forage for nutrient nutritional requirements, but the minimal levels of corn and protein should be fed. content tells you what you have and what forage content means a reduced volume of Factors such as forage quality and you need.

8 Feed that may not satisfy their appetites. availability, costs of corn and protein, and Dissatisfied cattle often will test fences. producer goals must be considered. A little or a lot? Given the high level of concentrate in Wright says that by mid-summer, many Some producers may be able to the diet, more management is required to drought-affected producers were supplement hay by feeding a little corn , ensure consistent feed intake and to watch scrambling to find harvested forage, while others might want to consider feeding for signs of digestive disturbances. Erratic including Conservation Reserve Program a lot of it. If forages are severely limited, feed consumption could have many (CRP) hay, straw and baled crop residues. If grain can be substituted for forage as the negative consequences, including acidosis, the goal is to winter cows on these relatively primary energy source.

9 This means putting bloat and reproductive failure, Wright low-quality forages, additional energy can cows on a limit-fed high-concentrate diet. warns. But limit-feeding corn appears to be be added to the diet with corn . For example, a winter cow ration might a nutritionally and economically viable However, to maintain maximum forage include up to 12 lb. of shelled corn , a protein alternative to hay during winter months. utilization, Wright advises feeding corn in supplement and only a few pounds of hay to @There are no easy answers as to what levels of corn and protein should be fed. The effect of corn supplementation on cow performance may be depend- ent on the level of protein in a diet. 132 ANGUSJ ournal October 2002.