How Much Corn to Feed a Beef Cow

Corn ordinarily is used as a feed grain in beef cattle diets throughout the U.S. Yet, until recently in many parts of North Dakota and other northern-tier states, feeding corn was less mutual. With the availability and improvement of shorter-flavor corn varieties, corn plantings in N Dakota increased nearly 40 percent from 2008 to 2017. In 2017, 427 one thousand thousand bushels of corn were produced in North Dakota. This has resulted in more involvement in using corn equally a feedstuff for beef cattle.

---

Feeding Value of Corn

Compared with other feed grains, corn is lower in poly peptide and slightly higher in energy (Table 1). Corn contains approximately 72 percent starch on a dry-matter basis. Other important fractions in the corn kernel include protein, fiber and minerals.

The protein in corn is approximately 65 percent escape or bypass protein. Escape poly peptide is protein that is not fermented or degraded by the ruminal microorganisms, simply is digested and captivated past the fauna in the small-scale intestine. The remaining 35 percent of the protein in corn is rumen-degradable protein. Ruminal microorganisms require rumen-degradable poly peptide for use in growth and protein synthesis.

Most enquiry with corn indicates a substantial benefit to providing rumen-degradable poly peptide in diets containing corn. Backgrounding or finishing diets containing high levels of corn crave supplemental rumen-degradable protein in the form of nonprotein nitrogen (urea or biuret); natural protein sources such as sunflower repast, canola meal or soybean meal; or a combination of nonprotein nitrogen and natural poly peptide.

Like all cereal grains, corn is depression in calcium and relatively loftier in phosphorus (Table 2). Diets containing loftier levels of corn should include a supplemental calcium source, such as limestone, to prevent urinary calculi. The recommended calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in backgrounding and feedlot diets is a minimum of two-to-1 (ii parts calcium to one office phosphorus).

Table iii lists the food content of corn harvested, stored or processed by dissimilar methods. In general, different harvest, storage and processing conditions practice not consequence in large differences in nutrient content. The advantages and disadvantages of the different harvest, storage and processing methods are discussed in detail later in this publication.

Use of Corn in Rations for Beef Cattle

Corn tin can exist used in many different types of backgrounding and finishing diets, and it can serve every bit a supplement in forage-based diets for beef cows. All the same, corn is relatively low in poly peptide and loftier in starch, which tin can impact forage utilization negatively, especially in diets based on lower-quality forages.

Consequently, corn grain should exist used in forage-based diets at relatively low levels (less than 0.4 per centum of body weight). When corn is used every bit a forage supplement, ensuring adequate rumen-degradable poly peptide is available is important to prevent whatever depressions in forage digestibility.

Corn can serve equally the sole grain source in backgrounding and finishing diets. Depending on desired cattle performance, the level of corn can exist varied to supply boosted energy in the nutrition of growing and finishing cattle. Yet, supplemental poly peptide is needed in most corn-based backgrounding and finishing diets because of corn'south low crude protein content.

Processing Corn

Even though corn can be fed whole with satisfactory results, cracking or rolling prior to feeding will increment digestibility past five to 10 per centum. In most instances, grinding or rolling corn volition not markedly better average daily gain, but proper processing will ameliorate feed conversion efficiency.

As the proportion of corn in the diet and the cost of corn increase, the benefits of processing also increase because corn is supplying a greater portion of the energy. When corn is fed whole, the creature must procedure the corn by mastication (chewing). Rolling or slap-up corn for use in a mixed ration may facilitate amend mixing.

Effigy i shows the relative rates of fermentation for diverse corn processing methods. Fine grinding corn should be avoided in beef cattle diets because fine-ground corn ferments apace in the rumen. When feeding high levels of finely ground corn, digestive disturbances, acidosis and founder can occur.

Effect of Corn Bushel Weight on Cattle Performance

About research with light examination weight corn indicates that it has similar feeding value to higher test weight grain. Data from the University of Nebraska signal light exam weight corn (46 to 48 pounds per bushel) has similar feeding value equally normal examination weight corn (55 to 56 pounds per bushel). Research conducted at South Dakota State Academy indicates that the net energy value of low exam weight corn may be slightly college than normal exam weight corn.

High-moisture Corn

Corn can be harvested wet and stored as loftier-moisture corn. For corn to exist used in this way, it should exist harvested at 22 to 32 per centum wet for optimum storage. Loftier-wet corn is similar in energy and protein content to dry corn and offers several harvest advantages:

■ Yields typically are increased due to less ear drop in the field.
■ Loftier-moisture corn allows for an earlier corn harvest, fugitive difficulties associated with agin weather.
■ No drying costs are encountered.

Producers also should realize that high-moisture corn has some disadvantages. compared with dry corn:

■ Marketing alternatives are express. High-moisture corn that is ground or rolled volition be marketable only through ruminant livestock.
■ High-wet corn may require additional storage and processing equipment.
■ Improperly ensiled loftier-moisture corn will result in excessive spoilage and storage losses.

High-wet corn must be stored in an airtight silo (bunker, silage numberless or oxygen-limiting construction). For optimum storage and utilization, it should be processed (ground or rolled) prior to storage. Grinding or rolling and subsequent packing of the corn facilitates oxygen exclusion in the silo.

For more information on harvesting and storing high-moisture corn, come across NDSU Extension publication AS1404, "Harvesting, Storing and Feeding High-wet Corn."

Immature and Frost-damaged Corn

In some cases, due to late planting or early frost, corn may demand to be harvested before it is mature.

The food content of immature corn tin be considerably different than mature corn. Table 4 compares the nutrient content of corn at various stages of maturity. In addition, harvesting may be difficult. Immature corn can exist harvested every bit ear or snapped corn after it is dry, or it may be harvested wet and stored in a silo structure as earlage.

Frost-damaged corn is by and large lower in examination weight than normal corn. However, feeding value is generally not markedly reduced. Frost-damaged corn should be analyzed for nutrient content prior to feeding.

Summary

Corn is a useful feed ingredient. It is loftier in free energy but relatively low in poly peptide, compared with other feed grains. For optimum dietary utilization, corn should be processed past rolling, cracking or coarsely grinding prior to feeding. The decision to process corn should exist based on efficiencies gained from processing, compared with the cost of processing.

Revised May 2018

ninobuty1942.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/livestock/feeding-corn-to-beef-cattle

Share this post