If you are considering feeding corn stalk bales to your cattle, here are some important things to consider. First, you should understand the nutritional value of cornstalks. This article will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of feeding this material to your cattle. Then, read about Grazing windrows, Feeding Windrows to Cattle, Nitrates in Cornstalks, and other considerations before making your final decision.
Contents
Nutritional value
Considering feeding corn stalk bales to your cattle this winter? You may be surprised to learn that they are not a particularly high-quality source of energy or protein. While they will provide your cattle with much-needed winter feed, you should first test the nutritional value of the bales before giving them to your cattle. It is important to sample as many bales as possible to determine the nutritional value of the corn.
Although cornstalk bales are not a high-quality feed ingredient, they can easily fit into a beef ration. A good place to start is by weighing cornstalks, which have an average nutrient value of six percent. It is important to test your forage before feeding it to cattle, as they can contain high levels of nitrates. Some corn fields may have high levels of nitrates, and corn stalk bales may contain these.
Costs
Feeding corn stalk bales to cattle can save producers money. The energy-rich feed provides adequate nutrition for growing cattle, but it is low in protein and must be supplemented with corn meal and other feed products during peak lactation. Researchers at the Orr Research Center in Baylis, Illinois, conducted two experiments on Angus and Simmental cows. Their findings revealed several ways to save money on feed.
A single bale of corn stover can replace up to one and a half tons of medium-quality hay in a feed ration. However, to increase protein levels in the feed, an additional 0.22 tons of whole soybeans must be added. Whole soybeans are 1:1 replacements for DDGs, making corn stover stalks an excellent alternative. Mixed-hay costs approximately $198 per ton, while soybeans are about $316 per ton. Therefore, 0.6 tons of corn stalks will replace $96 in feed.
Grazing windrows
Grazing corn residue to cattle has several advantages, but some beef producers worry about the compaction of soil and yield loss. Despite the potential problems, research shows that grazing corn residue can actually increase crop yield. Listed below are three of the most important benefits of grazing corn residue to cattle. These benefits are not all mutually exclusive. Grazing corn residue to cattle will increase yield and crop quality.
After combining, you can rake the corn residue into windrows. However, this will result in higher dirt content in the feed, which can cause feed palatability and animal health problems. Grazing windrow material can also be beneficial, but it will create challenges the following spring. This method is often not practical in North Dakota because of its cold winters, which cause windrows to form.
Nitrates in cornstalks
While there is no set standard for nitrate content, there are several ways to minimize the risk of feeding high-nitrate corn stalks to livestock. Cutting the stalks at a higher level, about eight to twelve inches above the ground, may be one way to reduce the risk. The lower the stalk, the greater the nitrate concentration. But, increasing the cutting height is not a sure-fire way to reduce nitrate levels in silage.
To minimize the risk of nitrate poisoning in livestock, use high-quality corn grain instead of high-nitrate by-product feeds. However, if this is not an option, supplementing with urea may be necessary. Urea will metabolize nitrates into ammonia, but excessive amounts may prevent this conversion. When this occurs, excess nitrate is absorbed into the bloodstream.
Harvesting corn residue
If you’re a farmer, you’ve probably wondered if harvesting corn residue is worth the effort. After all, one acre of corn yields up to 6,000 pounds of residue. But, the cows won’t eat the entire 50 pounds of residue that will remain in the field. Instead, they’ll nibble on downed ears and leaf material. In addition to the kernel, the cows will eat up to 25% of the remaining residue.
However, the nutritional value of this residue is low. One acre of corn residue provides enough for 45 days of grazing for one mature cow. Generally, a mature cow weighs more than 1000 pounds, so harvesting corn residue for cattle is a good option. But, do remember that the cows can eat up to 25 percent of the residue, resulting in a loss of 25 percent of your harvest efficiency.
