Feeding corn stalk bales to beef cattle Should the bedding be processed? For most applications where high traffic will occur (pens stocked heavier, concrete-surfaced pens, cattle nearing finishing weights, and, most importantly, unsurfaced pens), the answer is no. Feeding either results in an increase in waste, the only good thing being that the bales aer usually very heavy. The more palatable parts of the plant are also more nutritious. I get a couple questions each year about purchasing individually wrapped bales get cattle through the winter months. 4 Min Read. You’re going to want to grind that and use it as a roughage source or use it as a bedding. It gets the most stalks from the fewest acres. 80 per ton. 85-1. just drop behind the combine in between two rows. I know people feed corn stalks to cattle, but I was wondering how I should go about doing it to save it for this winter. Feeding livestock baled cornstalks makes it harder for them to get the nutrition they need, because most of the bales are comprised of the 75 percent of the stalk that is not digestible. Cattle graze selectively, looking for the more palatable feedstuffs. 5 pounds of corn silage dry matter basis or The drought across much of the western U. Preston, Ph. Grazing corn residue to cattle has several advantages, but some beef producers worry about the compaction of soil and yield loss. Over the course of the study, these heifers gained 2. Forums. . Types of silage. Blend to a good nontoxic amount at feeding except for aflatoxin-contaminated feed. UNL Extension Beef Specialist Rick Rasby talks about testing and using corn stalk bales. I have cut back on the alfalfa to about 1 bale(60 lbs bales) every 2 days, instead of every other. They usually average between $30-$35 per bale almost every year. In the end, this drops our corn stalk value to $117 per ton. If you bale corn stalks after harvest for cow feed, you can add significantly to its protein and TDN by ammoniating it with anhydrous ammonia. Categories Beef Cattle Tags beef cattle, corn 5 Bale feeding estimated at 10 min/bale fed (2. If you're one of them, be sure to Test Before Feeding Corn Stalk Bales Corn Bedding your cattle can be done with straw, corn stalk bales, OR soybean straw bales(do not use more than one straw type at once, wait for the straw to run out before switching straw types). Reply. Replies 43 Views 2K. feeding bales this fall, but since they will be further down the road, there is some concern about getting them home before a blizzard hits. My cows are on corn stalks and there is corn in their manure. J. 6 alfalfa mix hay bales/d per 50 animals) using a tractor. Managed carefully, one acre of corn residue can yield up to 60 animal unit grazing days I was thinking about trying to bale some of the corn stalks in the creek bottom fields this year and have some questions. Strategically plan paddocks so the herd can graze from the inside of the field outward and use the corn as a natural windbreak. , 2016). (Photo: K-State Research and Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, Lancaster said there is an increase of corn stalks being baled as a feed resource this year because of the shortage of hay and the decrease in pastures available for fall grazing due to a Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, Lancaster said there is an increase of corn stalks being baled as a feed resource this year because of the shortage of hay and the decrease in If corn stalks are being considered, they are best utilized when processed. ROLLER BAFFLE . I have put them in side by side feeders or alternated one bale of stalks then one bale of hay. work and looks at how weather impacts water intake in beef cattle. Getting out and actually weighing bales is the first step to planning winter feeding. Thus, corn stalk bales are usually ground, reducing the value to the end user by $10-15 per ton. To read more about supplementation for different classes of cattle and develop stocking rates, see Grazing Corn Stalks with Beef Cattle. it is Spread it lightly it on the bales with a 5 gallon bucket. Additionally, the residue quality decreases steadily through the winter, especially in wet Cornstalks can also be sold for $25 to $30 per round bale. The cost of feeding corn stalk bales to cattle can be a worthwhile investment if you know how to make the most of this material. The first year, we slid the spreader back on the combine and just let the husks, etc. Stan Smith, not too long ago had an article in the Ohio Beef Letter on feeding He said that when cattle are offered a corn stalk bale, they will consume the resource at a higher proportion of stalks than they would if they were just grazing the field. Joined Aug 15, 2007 Messages 31,075 Reaction score 626 Feeding corn with weevils. did a study on rolling bales out, processing them or feeding through a cone style feeder. 3 lbs. I’ve seen as much as 50% of the bales left behind as cattle sort through bales consuming leaves, husks and the upper portion of the stalk leaving the coarse bottom half of the Similarly, cattle that are offered corn stalk bales to eat in place of hay also often find that to be less palatable, said Phillip Lancaster, beef cattle nutritionist for the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute. Any gain you got had to come from supplementation along with the corn left in the rolled stalks. Do I need to supplement them?If corn appears in the manure of cows on corn stalks then research data would suggest that the diet being consumed is about 9. The amount of corn grain left on the field typically averages around 3 Grain sorghum or milo can be readily substituted for corn in cattle rations, says Warren Rusche, South Dakota State University Extension cow-calf field specialist. “Producers feeding those bales will have quite a bit of wastage unless they grind them and add them to a mixed ration,” Lancaster said. I prefer bean stubble bales to grind vs cornstalks, even the feeder cattle will clean up the bean hay in the bunk. ) with QLF liquid supplement blend • Treatment 2: MIX 30 – Ad lib access to cornstalk bales treated (20% bale wt. While corn crop residue can provide some additional grazing days to a beef system, there are some factors that must be considered to optimize the In conclusion, feeding corn silage to beef cows offers a range of benefits, particularly in terms of growth and performance. In my area a lot of round bales of cornstalks get sold at the local weekly auction. Even with supplementation costs, feeding baled cornstalks can be an economic alternative to feeding hay. Contact Us New posts. Schmitz recently tested corn stalk bales and found nitrate levels at more than 9,000 parts per million, over three times the recommended rate. I've ground some super rank mature grass silage bales with a super nice first cut alfalfa silage bale and they can't sort it out, grain the dirty birds still can. Pick-up function and reliability may be the most critical component to baling cornstalks. Remember, a dry mature corn stalk has as much food value as straw. Mar 8, 2013 #1 Here in western Iowa a lot of corn stalk bales use to get poured with mollases based liquid protien. As a result, concern of nitrate poisoning is low when grazing. We’ll discuss those as well. Cotton byproducts offer a variety of feed ingredients that can lower the cost of beef cattle production. 20% would be 80 bales saved and may last you through the winter. Usually the bales fall into two different ranges. Related Content. Light test-weight corn contains higher levels of fiber and less starch and is generally higher in protein compared with normal test-weight corn. When harvesting straw it is important to bale it as soon as possible after combining. July 2021 (NDSU Extension granted South Dakota State University permission to use information from the Sunflower Production Guide in a similar publication for print and/ or Compiled by R. ” Home; Channel Guide; Today's Sales; Feeder Flash Real-Time Prices Cow-Calf Today Auction Market Reports With such a large swing in numbers, farmers must consider that baled cornstalks as a forage will affect winter feeding programs for beef cows and create a plan. His estimates factor in buying 25 percent more stalk bales weighing the same as the hay bales that were sold because cows routinely utilize only 75 to 80 percent of the fodder in a stalk bale. Repeat till the bales are gone. Find information for consumers, cattle producers, educators & media. 2. Corn stalk bales are prone to mold growth Pros. Corn stalk bales will provide much needed feed this winter for many producers. Corn stover does not meet cow protein requirements and supplemental protein feeding or alternating hay and corn stover can easily balance cow protein requirements. In a Harper Adams University trial, there was no significant difference in the performance of beef bulls finished on a diet of 75% maize silage and 25% concentrate, compared to those fed a diet of 50% maize silage and 50% concentrate. Recent Posts. Fun facts, beef 101, cattle 101, news, and the most recent beef and cattle be sure to feed them effectively. Cattle Chat: Feeding corn stalk bales. I was told about scoring cows, I looked it up and all the cows score 5+ or low 6, if that makes sense. The best way to utilize cornstalks is to graze them. Incorporating Corn Into Beef Cow Rations Can Save Forage and Feed Expenses. Cornstalk bales can be used for bedding or as a feed resource with supplementation. I feed corn stalk bales and usually have corn syrup in a lick tank available to mix in with the stalk bales. Corn for silage is typically planted at higher populations than corn for grain. Shrink occurs during hay bale storage and the fermentation process in silage. 2nd bale is perfect. I used tubs the second half of the winter. Find the calculator here or go to beef. callmefence; Mar 23, 2021; Replies 4 Views 5K Big round bales are a staple of raising cattle. Most producers are feeding corn stalk bales to cows this winter. Those that are lower quality are usually between five and six percent crude protein and around 48 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN) on a dry matter basis. In 200 bu/acre corn I get about 11 3'x3'x7' square bales per acre. DON is restricted by the FDA to 5 ppm or less in the final ration of dairy cattle over 4 months of age, and 10 ppm in the final feed for beef cattle over 4 months of age. Drewnoski says ammoniated corn stalks are about equal to good quality grass hay with this If a lot of heads are present and the hay is fed free-choice, cattle will select the heads, and even though they are not well used by the cattle, there still may be some possibility for founder. Still the beef farm is making some extra profit by shuffling its feed resources, and farmers are potentially making new friends or cementing old friendships by providing a hay He said that when cattle are offered a corn stalk bale, they will consume the resource at a higher proportion of stalks than they would if they were just grazing the field. Feeding Recommendations for Litter Treated Corn Silage Corn silage treated with broiler litter at 30% of the dry matter should provide adequate crude protein, calcium, and phosphorous for most beef cattle. Some bean residues are even baled. This can also be a low-cost feed option that gets the herd off pastures and saves harvested forages for winter month use. You will be diluting the % protein in the tub & pellets with every mouthful of corn stalks. Should I – Ad lib access to cornstalk bales treated (20% bale wt. I feed corn stalk bales the last two years, the cows did well on them. 75/bushel ($169/ton), hay = $200/ton, supplement = Pre-feeding corn plant fractions could not be statistically analyzed due to the method for sequentially feeding stover bales to all pens within a stover treatment. I added 10 gallon of molasses per bale by setting bales on end. Barry hires a custom tub grinder to grind the 1,500-pound corn stalk bales and add the Second Crop liquid mixture. edu, select the Corn crop residue is practical for feeding dry, gestating beef cows in mid gestation provided they have average or better body condition. Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle, 4th Edition: Health the guy had the milo stalk bales tested and they r 7% protein. This cost needs to be taken into consideration and reduces the value to the end user by $10-15 per ton. With current market prices, assuming costs for corn = $4. Steve, I'm unrolling my bales now on top of the snow, and it seems to practically eliminate all the waste. If you are considering feeding corn stalk bales to your cattle, here are some important things to consider. edu Barley is an important feed grain in many The bottom 75 percent of the stalk is not easily digested, said John Johns, UK extension professor for beef nutrition and management. This would generally decrease quality because of the added stalk (stem) amount in the bale. In well-packed Replacing a larger portion of corn in beef cattle diets with corn silage may be an economical solution. Yes, corn stalk bales can be used as a feed source for cattle, especially during the winter months when fresh forage is scarce. The leftover stalk could be fed on top of hay bales or used as bedding. First, you should understand the nutritional value. I started cutting back to two 5 gallon buckets of cubes every other day to about 1 every other day. • Grab samples from a bale represent 1ft. Even with these costs, it can still be an economical feed. Considerations for Feeding Baleage to Beef Cattle Match. You may need some calcium. Schmitz offers these suggestions: Test your bales. This means that one acre of corn residue can supply enough forage to sustain a 1,000-lb cow or animal equivalent for 1. This can cause an increase in forage wastage and the amount of feed inventory needed for the feeding period. Taking hay inventory now is key. Over the past several years we have submitted over 40 different samples of corn stalk bales through our office. Beckman writes, “Figuring out He said that when cattle are offered a corn stalk bale, they will consume the resource at a higher proportion of stalks than they would if they were just grazing the field. Feeding Barley to Beef Cattle. The food value is in the husks and leaves. ” Talk about going back in time! Around here, everyone homestead, farm house, building where they ever milked or had cows, has a trench silo. A Closer Look: Feeding Cattle Is All About Feeding The Microbes Some PPL inject stock bales here up north with anhydrous,(NH3) to add to the protein levels. Bale grazing is a viable option for winter cattle feeding, compared to feeding the same hay in a dry lot. Feeding cattle corn or other cereal grains, or their by-products does not kill the animal. TexasBred Well-known member. Cows fed these bales should do very well up until calving with just corn stalk bales and adequate protein Baled cornstalks are normally 3-5% CP and 45-54% TDN. And I would have to guess you don't have a big bale shredder, which means they will waste a lot of the bale. Corn silage provides about 40 to 50% grain and 50 to 60% roughage on a dry matter basis. Q: I have a field I can’t graze. 4, 2024, near Watertown, South Dakota. We had a decent hay crop, but used alot of that in late july through august. Grazing Corn Residue. so i would be just as good to continue feeding the prairie that i already have. if they are put in a ring, the hard stalks tend to pile up and they aren't able to get to the leafy parts. However, when cattle are given an opportunity to selectively graze stalks, the diet they select is surprisingly high quality. weigh 1,400lbs and yea it was harvested. i was feeding mainly 3rd Similarly, cattle that are offered cornstalk bales to eat in place of hay also often find that to be less palatable, says Phillip Lancaster, beef cattle nutritionist for the Kansas State University (K-State) Beef Cattle Institute (BCI). A good rule of thumb is that about 50% of the corn residue can be utilized for grazing. I have beef cattle. ag. “Now, if you just go rake and bale, that’s a completely different situation,” he advised. We propose to improve the utilization of nutrients from the Wisconsin corn crop by selectively collecting the fractions of the corn plant that are more digestible and then feeding these fractions to cattle for digestibility evaluation. Adapted from: University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Extension (document EC278) Strategies for Optimizing Residue Grazing. No feeding system is 100 per cent efficient. Supplementation is necessary to balance rations using baled cornstalks. If the baled stalks represents 50-75% of their diet, the 5-6% protein level is going to DROP the % protein in the total diet drastically. The primary clinical sign with DON is feed refusal but a drop in milk production, diarrhea, and immune system alterations may be noted. Cattle fed light test-weight corn stored as high-moisture corn in a bunker silo had similar gains and feed efficiencies, compared with cattle fed dry-rolled corn in research conducted at the Carrington The Corn Stalk Grazing Calculator available on the University of Nebraska website (referenced above) can also be used to calculate cattle transportation costs. Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle, 4th Edition: Health, Handling, Breeding Amazon. Cattle will select any He said that when cattle are offered a corn stalk bale, they will consume the resource at a higher proportion of stalks than they would if they were just grazing the field. 2) Corn stalks with toxic levels should be diluted with other beef cattle feeds to reduce the nitrate intake: Feeding a supplement, such as corn, can reduce the nitrate concentration and provide energy so that nitrite can be metabolized to some extent. Maize can reduce concentrate use without compromising performance. Cattle first eat the remaining corn grain, then husks, then leaves, and finally the stalk. Forage testing is important when developing a supplementation plan. One reason for not grazing corn stalks is, “I always lose at least one cow when I graze corn stalks. I am still curious about feeding corn stalks to cattle beef cattle all taste the same to me. Feeding system losses. I don't know how efficient that is, but a little research or a couple of phone calls to an extension agent should help you find out. Jason Hartschuh, Extension Field Specialist, Dairy Management and Precision Livestock, Ohio State University Extension and Garth Ruff, Field Specialist Beef Cattle and Livestock Marketing, OSU Extension. Built the unroller. 2% crude protein. Similar to you sitting down and eating an entire box Feeding cornstalk bales can result in high levels of waste, according to Lehmkuhler. This may mean cutting while stalks still are partially green, especially milo stubble, so be sure to let it dry long enough before baling for safe preservation. Corn stalk bales when supplemented with a protein source can often meet a beef cows energy needs until Another study from North Carolina investigated feeding beef cows, Making bales with corn stalks is not a common practice. Corn silage could make up 40% to 60% of diet dry matter and still be economical. You guys have better luck then I do getting cattle to eat corn stalk bales, I even grind em and cattle pick at it in the bunk, specially feeder cattle, only thing I like cornstalks for is for making windbreaks and bedding. L. Although mowing and raking tend to make baling easier, this increases the amount of dirt and ash content K-State beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster gives information about the dietary value of feeding corn stalk bales compared to letting the cows graze a corn field that has been harvested. Not very appealing, right? Similarly, cattle that are offered corn stalk bales to eat in place of hay also often find that to be less palatable, said Phillip Lancaster, beef cattle nutritionist for the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute. Making corn stalk bales is a time consuming process and the cost to produce bales usually outweighs the return on investment. Feeding 2-3 pounds of corn per head, per day to fall calves or gestating cows will stretch short hay supplies. Cattle fulfill the role of ruminants by converting humanly indigestible plant biomass into high quality and desirable human food in the form of beef and milk. Most bales had pretty good TDN levels, often close to 55 percent. The Mineral Supplementation Puzzle: How Many Days of Hay • Base hay feeding on cow weight: 3% of estimated body weight per day – If hay supply is ample • Example: 1,200 lb bale, 1,400 lb cow (42 lb of hay) – Bales are 10% water, so discount weight to 1080 lb – One bale will feed 27 cows for one day – For easy math, I assumed 40 lb of hay per cow • Estimate weight based on size of bale and density He emphasized his previous statements focused on cattle not grazing or being fed hay. in the field • Hay Probes allow you to get small amounts from multiple layers in the bale – 18 inches long and min of 3/8 diameter Most of this weight is the stalk but there are also leaves, husks, some corn grain and cobs. "But, feed value of stalks varies greatly, and cattle tend to waste more of it. Contributors include members of the OSU Beef Team and beef cattle specialists and economists from across the U. The map also features grain drying, and the ability to ferment earlage, haylage, and corn silage and high moisture corn in vertical silos, thanks to GlobalCompany. Some producers may be considering using corn residue bales. Every two weeks they process about 400 round bales at about 40 tons an hour, and either put it in a bunker silo or pack it into a pile. December 5, 2023. It's not enough to really need to roll it or bale it. When eating a salad, imagine how it might taste if all there was to eat were the stems of the plant. One of the main risks is mold. Baling cornstalks will add costs to the feed in the form of fuel, labor, equipment costs, and fertilizer replacement costs. Is it worth it to bale cornstalks and feed them? A: If you do not have the capability to graze cornstalks, they can be baled. If you're one of them, be sure to Test Before Feeding Corn Stalk Bales Corn Considering By-products and Alternative Feedstuff beyond hay for ruminants. Over the past several years we have submitted over 40 different samples of corn stalk bales through our Cattle Chat: Feeding corn stalk bales: https://lnkd. Cotton Find information for consumers, cattle producers, educators & media. Ammoniate corn residue bales. I've tested maize stalks as high as 13% crude protein and must more digestible than corn stalks. D. IV. Dry forage stimulates saliva production and can provide a bit of a rumen buffer to help minimize a sudden pH drop. Updated August 11, Corn Silage: $55/ton-12-Corn Stalk: $115/ton---Dried Distillers Grain: $258/ton-3. However, until recently in many parts of North Dakota and other northern-tier states, feeding corn was less common. it is average quality. com. jdv Member. The person who originated the adage, “It beats a snowbank” may have been thinking about feeding corn stalk bales. Because variability is high, it is important to sample and test for nutrient analysis. Cottonseed meal and whole cottonseed can be used in rations for any class of cattle. Although corn stalk bales can be beneficial for beef cattle, they do carry some risks that farmers should be aware of. Corn residue has With fall and winter right around the corner, farmers and ranchers might look at their hay supply and hope it lasts. Right now I'm grinding a 1st cut grass silage bale with some stalk bales that were wrapped three? years ago and about 40% corn silage. We’ve been going back and forth regarding buying or baling corn stalk bales, or running our cows down the road to our corn fields for grazing. However you have an issue with high prussic acid content that will kill cattle. We hired a guy to come bale it. per head per day, which was comparable to heifers fed a traditional diet of alfalfa/grass, corn silage and DDGS. If there are heads, that would indicate that the milo could have a large diameter stalk and may be hard to get dried down. Baled milo stalks would be similar to corn stalk bales. Therefore, sorghum is often compared to corn when evaluating its use in feedlot rations. Although, the dairy diet is not your typical beef cow overwintering ration, it grain fed to cattle on finishing diets in the United States (Galyean and Gleghorn, 2001; Vasconcelos and Galyean, 2007; and Samuelson et al. This is equivalent to 2 large round corn stalk bales for a 250-head pen (or 4 large round bales if it began to rain or snow). For this reason, the best way to utilize Bale grazing is a relatively unexplored winter feeding option for most beef cattle operations in the Northern Great Plains. Salt, mineral, and Vitamin A supplements are recommended for cattle grazing crop fodder. i picked up some 1,500lb bales of alfalfa for $50 each. Salt and mineral were also provided free choice. Cover the stalk bales with a tarp, then inject the gas to permeate the bales. Cattle also should be full of dry hay before turnout so they don't eat as many ears and should be turned out midday to allow corn stalks to dry from morning dew. i found that the best way to clean them up was to roll them out as thin as possible. Don’t guess, forage test. I generally just put it out in hedgerow or a spot they can use it as bedding - it is usually shrunk down pretty bad in the row. 1 In Vitro Dry Matter Digestibility (IVDMD) is approximately equal to total digestible nutrients (TDN). When feeding solubles, you need no phosphorus supplementation. I have had more experience feeeding corn stalk bales to beef cows and the quality can be Dry conditions can create accumulation of nitrates in the lower stalk. Bale, bunker or heap silage Corn stalks are often thought of as low-quality roughage suitable only for cows. When it comes to feeding ruminants versus monogastrics, the feed stuff options Intake results in 85-90 of the stover readily consumed by beef cows. Corn for silage should be planted at the same time as corn for grain to maximize tonnage. However, getting a good price for a bale of corn stalks was just too much of a temptation so he turned a baling crew loose in the field to make corn stalk bales. April 1 to May 1 is typically the ideal range of dates to plant corn in Western Kentucky; April 15 to May 15 is ideal for Central and Eastern Kentucky. Recently, several producers have been looking into using a bale grazing system for winter feeding due to the lower labor requirements and possible reduced cost. Our feeders last 10+ years if you want to make a winter feeding change for the long term. By going to every other day feeding of the grain or hay supplement, we were able to reduce labour costs. The Risks of Feeding Corn Stalk Bales to Beef Cattle. If feeding cattle on pasture, he reiterated silage is an energy supplement, not a protein supplement. Fortunately, cattle will eat the stalk portion of the plant last. 6 Annual ownership cost of the feed wagon (treatment 1) was $4,009 and of the grinder-TMR (treatment 2&3) mixer was $6,014. Research said,"Reduced wintering costs by 21% for a 100 cow reference herd. 21 Millionth Registration Auction and Angus Foundation Raffle Raises $25,000; Angus Recognizes Champions in the Ring; Winterizing Your Cowherd- Managing Cows Through Cold Stress I have a bunch of sweet corn that will be ready to be picked next week. That area next to the skid loader is where I "bale grazed" a bale before this pic was taken. 8. in/gk4B8R9E Skip to main This article highlights the focus of my M. Effects of corn stalk inclusion rate on rumination and ruminal pH in Effects of grazing corn plant residue on beef cattle performance, residue characteristics, and When we start feeding, I don't put the end bale into a feeder. We fed them 14 pounds of rolled barley or 14 pounds of alfalfa hay on alternate days. Feeding these grains as 100% of the diet will give the animal an upset stomach. We rent out our land and we (800) 853-2651. For example, if you bale the entire field you may only have 3-4% protein and less than 50% TDN. I've even used a 2 bales of stalks to 1 bale of hay ratio with success. Cattle are required to travel more for feed, encouraging exercise which may result in less calving difficulties; Opportunity to move feeding location which allows manure to be deposited more evenly, reducing manure management costs, and targeting areas that would benefit from nutrient deposition In these experiments, corn cost $2/bushel ($71/ton), hay cost $80/ton, and the supplement cost $150/ton. Information on the nutrient requirements of beef cattle can be found in Extension publication ANR-0060, “Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle. If producers want to supplement low quality hay or corn stalks with an additional feed, silage does not fit that role. The first component on the MegaWide™Plus pickup to make contact with the crop is the When using electric fence, rather than drill holes in frozen ground for posts, break the cobs off a corn stalk and slide a length of PVC pipe over top of the stalk, tying the wire to that. The stalk and cob in corn residue are unpalatable and will not be consumed unless the bale is ground. “Producers feeding those bales will have quite a bit of wastage unless they grind them and add them to a Feeding Value of Sunflower Products in Beef Cattle Diets Compiled by Karl Hoppe, Extension Livestock Systems Specialist, NDSU Research Extension Center, Carrington, N. With its nutrient-rich composition, enhanced digestibility, and versatility in feeding programs, corn Weathering after combining, especially rain, can really lower the energy value of stalk hay. Skip to content. SHOP NOW. As for the feeding value, Anderson says, one rule of thumb suggests that the dollar feeding value is midway between that of straw and prairie hay. Can you feed cows only corn? Feeding cows only corn is not recommended, as it lacks essential nutrients. Using this information, diets can be formulated from feeds and ingredients to meet these requirements, with the expectation that animals will not only remain healthy, but also will be productive and efficient. Information will also be presented on agronomic practices or conditions specific to the production and harvesting of sugarcane as a feedstuff, and the economics of its utilization. Overall, corn stalk bales can be an economical and nutritional feed option for beef cattle farmers. “Test those corn stalk bales for nitrates, of course, to make sure to feed them safely. "Testing corn stalks for nitrates and seeking assistance in formulating rations will be vitally important for beef producers in upcoming weeks and months," he says. Sample and test your bales as soon as possible so when snow gets deep or other feeds run out, you will already know how to best feed your corn stalk bales. You see them unrolled in the pasture, placed in feeders, chopped and windrowed by a bale processor, ground up and mixed with other feedstuffs in a total mixed ration, or placed in the field to be “ bale-grazed. ) with Mix 30 liquid supplement • Treatment 3: CGF – Ad lib access to cornstalk bales and dry CGF bucket fed (5 lbs/hd/d as-is) in concrete bunks Depending on the class of cattle consuming corn fodder, additional supplementation may be required. Some producers are looking into options for salvaging this corn crop as silage for feeding to their cows and feeder calves by baling the crop into round bales and wrapping it in plastic. Feeding stalk bales as one would hay bales in a ring feeder can lead to significant waste. Dec 29, 2023. Generally, they eat all of it. Pasture silage: by targeting high-quality silage, with a ME content of at least 10 MJ/kg DM, liveweight gains of 0. 14 kg/day can be achieved, or 104-123 kg/t silage DM, on silages produced from a range North Dakota State U. Baler for Corn Stalk Baling. Thus to improve feed value, grinding corn stalk bales is common. Sisal and plastic twine are the traditional standards, but in recent years, hay producers increasingly have moved to Similarly, cattle that are offered cornstalk bales to eat in place of hay also often find that to be less palatable, says Phillip Lancaster, beef cattle nutritionist for the Kansas State University (K-State) Beef Cattle Institute (BCI). If I have dry round bales when we are putting up baleage, we use a dry bale on both ends. Not just counting bales, but knowing how many tons of forage is available versus what might have to be purchased supplementation. I would say they are eating 80% of the bale, leaving the stalks and eating the leaves and husks. Following the corn harvest, the remaining husks, leaves, stalks, and corn can be picked up by a grazing animal. Limestone is a cheap source for that mineral. In the end, this drops our corn stalk value to $67. Certainly, it would be easier to let the cattle graze stalks vs. How bales are stacked influences storage loss. But it's not a one-for-one replacement and there are a few corn finely, pack the silage mass well, and fill the silo as quickly as possible to obtain optimum fermentation conditions. Tracks on the skid makes it possible to get around in the deep snow. However, like most forages there can be quite a bit of variability in nutritional value. 4 corn residue bales/d per 50 animals, 3. 98: Beef Feedlot and Backgrounding, Cattle Feeding Challenges. This works OK on poor hay or oats straw (where the DDG falls down into the bale) but not so well on corn stover (where DDG tends to sit on top of the course material). Corn stalk bales can be used for bedding or as a feed resource 2023. “If you rake up corn stalks and bale it in and over half of the weight of the bale is stem, then that is not a good nutritional source for cows or calves. This is above the requirement for cows in mid and late gestation. Cattle will pick through a bale, eating the leaves and husks while leaving behind the stalks. The preference for corn does not indicate that other grains are inferior to corn, it is simply that I"m going to be short on hay this winter and in the past I have fed a few corn stalk bales with some luck. various classes of cattle with emphasis on using fresh-chopped cane as a feed for growing-finishing beef cattle. 14 kg/day can be achieved, or 104-123 kg/t silage DM, on silages produced from a range i got a question i live in northern michigan and we have about 41 beef cows and we usually just feed them good grass hay during the winter, but after last year with being short of hay we decided to put up corn silage for the cows and feed them that along with the hay this year through the winter, my only concern is how much silage should we be feeding the cows. Baling can be a labor-intensive process, and custom hire can run upwards of $40 a bale. "We let it steep for six or seven days before we start feeding a new pile," he says. Storage and feeding: Corn stalks are comparable in energy content to average hay on By Lisa Moser. Feeding 18. The protein and energy content should be able to sustain a non-lactating cow’s body weight during mid-gestation. Nutrition research spanning more than 125 years has defined the nutrients required by animals. Corn stalk rolls? kenny thomas; Dec 25, 2023; 2 3. If baling cornstalks for feed, a nitrate test is recommended. With the availability and improvement of shorter-season corn varieties, corn plantings in North Dakota increased nearly 40 percent from 2008 to 2017. 5: 4: Feed cost per day-$2. Growing Sugarcane for Feeding Production Practices I feed a combination of hay & corn stalk bales each year. Fusarium sp molds cause head . Limit-feeding corn silage can also be an option for over­wintering the beef herd. Grains should have less than 10 parts per million of vomitoxin for ruminating beef cattle and feedlot cattle over 4 months old. unl. But how good is this feed? We’re all familiar with the usefulness of grazing corn stalks, but I see more and more residue from soybean fields grazed every year. Cattle will eat the more digestible and higher protein portions first. Most people are feeding less. Cows seem to like licking up what’s left behind after combining. none. Protein and energy provided by corn residue grazing is, however, just borderline once the waste corn is consumed which occurs very quickly in the grazing period. In other words . Here's a pic of what's being left on the "swath". Harvesting and Feeding Corn Stalks. ” Related: Corn Stalk Bales An Option For Cost Saving. Best practice in this scenario is to ensure cows are not forced to eat the stalk. Due to an increased ratio of stalks to husk and leaves, the feed value of baled cornstalks is lower than if grazed. To use them most effectively, you'll want to find out what they have to offer nutritionally. I alternated grass bales inbetween corn bales. The quality of the stalks is lower when the corn is removed Similarly, cattle that are offered corn stalk bales to eat in place of hay also often find that to be less palatable, said Phillip Lancaster, beef cattle nutritionist for the Kansas State Ben Beckman, University of Nebraska Lincoln, offers some insights on this topic in a recent article titled, “Valuing corn stalk bales. The stalk and cob in corn residue are unpalatable and will not be consumed by cattle unless the bale is ground. Sample and test your bales as soon as possible so when snow gets deep or other feeds run out you will already know how to best feed your corn stalk bales. Fact Sheet was written by: Greg Lardy and Marc Bauer Department of Animal and Range Sciences and provided by: North Dakota State University www. It is a trench 12-18 feet deep in a hillside about 20-30 feet wide and 100 feet, more or less long. Gin trash and cottonseed hulls are low-energy feedstuffs that are used as a roughage source in high energy diets or as a partial energy replacement in mature cow diets. Corn stalk bales can provide much needed feed over the winter. 55: $1. In many fields in which the standing corn looks decent, upon further inspection it is seen that the ears are poorly pollinated or completely barren. S The TDN of corn stalks is about 50%. After soybeans are harvested, cows sometimes are put out on the residues to graze. Photo taken Nov. The decision to feed baleage starts with matching forage quality with the nutrient requirements of the class of livestock being fed. 5 to 2 months. He said that when cattle are offered a corn stalk bale, they will consume the resource at a higher proportion of stalks than they would if they were just grazing the field. Do you have any information on feeding corn syrup with a hay processor that holds six bales 70 percent moisture). Expect cattle to sort through the stalk bales when fed in round bale feeders. I was hoping to inject corn distiller solubles into oat straw bales . Posted Nov 15, 2023 beef cattle nutritionist for the Kansas State University Some producers may windrow the stalk field, rake, and bale. Corn stalk baling requires a few adjustments to your baler when switching from hay. of crop residue. S. ” He said that when cattle are offered a corn stalk bale, they will consume the resource at a higher proportion of stalks than they would if they were just grazing the field. ndsu. S has resulted in low hay production, high hay prices and in some cases, no hay to be bought. With the drought, hay shortages and high prices - every forage will be stretched to the max, including corn He says, “Before you feed those bales, first find out what they have to offer nutritionally. Feeding corn silage to cattle can add value Feeding corn silage to cattle can add value. Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, Lancaster says there is an increase of cornstalks being baled as a feed resource this year because Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, Lancaster said there is an increase of corn stalks being baled as a feed resource this year because of the shortage of hay and the Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, Lancaster said there is an increase of corn stalks being baled as a feed resource this year because of the shortage of hay and the decrease in pastures available for fall grazing due to a K-State beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster gives information about the dietary value of feeding corn stalk bales compared to letting the cows graze a corn field that has been harvested. As a guideline, figure that for each bushel of shell corn produced there will be about 50 lbs. If the residue that came out of the combine were raked then baled, there would be more husk and leaf in the bale. 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