Corn for cows is a great way to give your livestock the protein and vitamins that they need to be healthy. But it’s important to buy the right kind of corn. You can purchase whole ears of corn, steam-flaked corn, or even roughage buster to keep your cattle healthy.
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Whole ears of corn
Corn is a highly nutrient dense source of energy for cattle. It has a variety of benefits for your cows including fiber, protein, and starches. However, corn is not suitable as the sole source of nutrition for your cattle. For a balanced diet, it is best to pair it with hay, grass, and other forage.
There are many ways to feed whole ears of corn to your cattle. The best options are fresh and dried. Dried corn is especially beneficial because it can be fed in various forms as a meal or as a supplement.
If you’re feeding your livestock with corn, you’ll want to ensure it is of a high quality. This includes the ear, husk, and stalk. You can also feed the husks to your cows, as a supplement to their forage.
Despite its high nutritional content, corn should only be consumed in moderation. Adding large quantities of this crop can cause acidosis in animals.
Steam-flaked corn
Steam-flaked corn has been shown to enhance feedlot performance, milk fat content, and fat-corrected-milk yield. It has also been found to improve ruminal conditions. In addition, it has the ability to increase microbial protein synthesis.
As a result, steam-flaked corn is superior to other corn processing methods. Furthermore, it has a higher energy value than dry-rolled or high-moisture corn.
The process involves the steaming of whole corn at atmospheric pressure for 20 to 40 minutes before rolling it into a flake. This process disrupts the starch-protein matrix and increases the surface area of the grain. This is accompanied by a decrease in total volatile-fatty-acids (VFA) concentration and a rise in ruminal pH.
This improvement in ruminal conditions may be related to an increase in microbial protein synthesis. Therefore, it is suggested that steam-flaked corn be used to feed lactating cows.
Researchers conducted a study to evaluate the feeding value of different grain processing treatments. They examined the effects of particle size and moisture content on the performance of corn fed to cows.
Roughage Buster
Roughage buster is a highly touted supplement designed to stimulate your cattle’s appetites and improve productivity. The ingredients include ADM’s top-of-the-line Biuret, which has been shown to aid in forage digestion, and Comax Cobalt, which helps to stimulate the growth of microbes resulting in higher feed conversion and weight gains. Having your cows on Roughage Buster can only improve the performance of your herd. As an added bonus, you will be able to save some cash by avoiding the need for a supplemental feed source.
As far as the Roughage Buster goes, you should consult with your veterinarian to discuss the product’s use on your farm. To be sure, it’s all about reducing your stress level and ensuring the health and well being of your livestock. It’s no secret that livestock can be stressed out when subjected to drought and other natural disasters. This makes it even more important to have an effective and efficient management plan in place.
Feedlot supplements
If you have cattle on a feedlot, you may want to consider supplying them with a beef cattle supplement. Beef cattle need a variety of minerals for optimal growth and reproduction. These trace minerals are also important for maintaining animal performance and health.
Feedlot supplements for cows should be formulated to meet the needs of each animal. They can be purchased inexpensively. Be sure to follow label instructions carefully, however.
The main goal of a feedlot is to increase fat gain quickly. This is accomplished by feeding a high-protein ration. Rations should contain 67-90% roughage and 10-33 percent supplement.
The main component of the ration is urea. Other additives such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus may also be added for economy.
The nutritional value of the forage is continually declining. For example, the nitrate content of forages is higher in winter than summer. This may be due to adverse weather conditions or high nitrogen fertilizer applications.
