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Grazing Best Option for Corn Stalks as Cattle
Feed
By
Laura Skillman
PRINCETON, Ky., (Sept. 5, 2007) – Grazing corn stalks can be a
valuable tool for beef cattle producers looking to stretch their
short hay supply through the winter. Grazing the stalks can
delay the need to feed hay while retaining much of the nutrients
in the field, whereas baling the stalks reduces palatability and
removes nutrients.
Kentucky’s cattle producers are facing challenges this year
because of compounding weather conditions – spring freeze
followed by extreme drought. This year also follows a winter
feeding season with the lowest carryover in recent memory. All
these things together have beef producers looking at the best
options for their cattle farm.
“My main concern is that people are baling stalks and a lot of
low quality feed, and some are selling it for high prices,” said
Roy Burris, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture beef
specialist.
He advises that, instead of going out and buying expensive, low
quality feed, farmers should limit feed hay and buy complete
feeds or supplements.
“What you need to do is inventory feed, consider culling some
cows judiciously and then limit feed hay and make up the
difference with supplements.
“If you grow corn, it makes sense to use your corn stalks and
the best option is to graze it,” Burris said. “It’s a desirable
option and you can do it now if you are feeding hay and have
harvested some corn. If you can knock off 30 days of hay feeding
by grazing corn stalks, cull those cattle that need to be
culled, then you can limit feed hay and use supplements. Then
you probably will be able to manage this year’s feeding
shortage.”
The stalks work best for cows that are not nursing because they
have fewer nutritional needs.
Burris said if fall rains come and allow for some stockpiling of
cool season grasses, then there’s a chance of further stretching
the hay supply.
Grazing corn stalks has been a common practice for many beef
producers in Kentucky, said Garry Lacefield, UK forage
specialist. Farmers potentially can get more grazing days by
using temporary fencing to limit access to only a few acres at a
time.
Work in Missouri using temporary fences to allocate a week’s
feed supply resulted in cattle grazing for 60 days at a cost of
5 cents per day. Similar work in Iowa showed that each acre of
corn stalks could replace one-half ton of hay and provided 33
days of grazing per acre. In this study, using a cost of $60 per
ton for hay, each acre of corn stalks was worth $30.
Grazing corn stalks helps keep nutrients in the field while
baling stalks removes them. UK extension soils specialist Lloyd
Murdock said grazing leaves more residue on the field and many
of the nutrients consumed by the animals are returned to the
soil through their manure.
Generally, about 8,000 pounds of corn residue is left after
harvest from a crop yielding 175 bushels per acre. This year,
Murdock estimates it will be closer to 4,500 pounds per acre
because of the drought or about four bales per acre. Using this
figure, he calculated baling stalks results in a loss of $4.50
per acre in phosphate and $15 per acre in potash based on
current fertilizer costs. As a result, baling the stalks removes
$19.50 in nutrients per acre from the field or about $5 per
bale.
“If you are going to graze corn stalks, remember that founder
can occur if animals get too much grain,” Lacefield said. “This
is usually associated with spills or piles of corn associated
with truck loading areas. Prussic acid can be a problem with
johnsongrass along fencerows or other areas where the weed has
not been controlled. The most critical time is the first light,
non-killing frost. If there is johnsongrass in the field, remove
animals before the first frost. Grazing is safe 48 hours after
the plants are frozen. Nitrates could be a problem on drought
stressed corn. If in doubt, test.”
For more information on nitrate testing, visit the
UK forages Web site and click on “Drought - Forage Issues.”
General drought information can be found at
http://ces.ca.uky.edu/extension_regions/ResourcesforSite-CJ/drought/index.htm.
The bottom line is to make sure cattle have a balanced ration,
otherwise they will lose body condition resulting in poorer milk
quality and weaker calves this spring and that could result in
higher deaths, Burris said. They also will be less likely to
rebreed.
“It’s a matter of pay me now or pay me later,” he said. “Things
are serious, but I think if we limit feed hay, cull where
necessary and feed supplements we can get through this.”
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Contact: Roy Burris, 270-365-7541, ext. 208
Garry Lacefield, 270-365-7541, ext. 202
Lloyd Murdock, 270-365-7541, ext. 207
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The UK College
of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across
the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
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