Does
the projected high cost of drying this
year’s corn crop have you considering
feeding high moisture corn to your
Holstein
steers instead of dry shelled corn?
If you are contemplating this change
in your feeding program, there are several
factors that you need to consider.
Research
has shown that lighter cattle (350 lbs. –
700 lbs.) will have higher intakes of high
moisture corn than dry corn.
High moisture corn is more highly
degradable than dry corn and provides more
energy.
High moisture corn provides 73.6 Mcal/cwt.
DM of NEg, while dry corn has 68.2 Mcal/cwt.
DM of NEg.
Because of the higher energy level
plus the greater intake at lighter weights,
gains will also be higher.
However, feeding high moisture corn
for extended periods of time (more than 100
days) can lead to high levels of acidosis
because of the greater intake level and the
rapid degradability of the high moisture
corn. Dry
corn reduces acidosis in long fed cattle
because of slower degradability and it also
provides some scratch factor in the rumen.
High
moisture shelled corn can be fed to Tend-R-Leen
cattle if the guidelines for adding roughage
and rolling the corn are followed.
High moisture shelled corn can be fed to
cattle under 600 pounds just as dry corn is
fed, unless it is fed for more than 100
days. Any time high moisture corn is
fed more than 100 days, roughage must be
added to the ration to provide a scratch
factor for the rumen. For cattle over
600 pounds, course roughage should be added
free choice to the ration when feeding high
moisture corn. If the corn is above 24
percent moisture and/or if high moisture
shelled corn is fed for more than 100 days,
the corn must be rolled.
The
general guidelines for feeding ensiled high
moisture corn:
|
Body
weight
|
Moisture
level
|
Protein
supplement
|
Sodium
Diacetate supplement
|
Roll
or add roughage
|
|
Up
to 600 lbs.
|
<24%
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
|
>24%
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Over
100 days
|
>24%
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Roll
& roughage
|
|
Over
600 lbs.
|
<24%
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Roughage
|
|
|
>24%
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Roll
& roughage
|
|
Over
100 days
|
>24%
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Roll
& roughage
|
The
addition of roughage and rolling the corn
compensate for the reduction of saliva and
to provide rumen scratch.
Since the high moisture corn is soft
and requires less chewing, less saliva is
produced.
Saliva is necessary to provide
adequate buffering to the digestive system.
This makes the supplementing buffers
and mineral important.
Tend-R-Leen Ultra Finisher, code 536,
provides the buffers and minerals needed to
promote a healthy digestives system as well
as optimal gains.
Since
the corn is softer and does not scratch the
rumen wall, over time this can weaken the
rumen wall where some nutrient absorption
takes place.
As the rumen wall gets thinner, more
rumen microorganisms are absorbed into the
blood stream where they must be filtered out
(detoxified) by the liver.
This can lead to increased incidence
of liver abscesses and, over a period of
time, can cause death.
Feeding an antibiotic like Tylan
becomes very important to help reduce the
incidence of liver abscesses.
High
moisture corn is also susceptible to mold
and yeast.
Mold can lead to problems such as
kidney and liver damage, reduced weight
gain, diarrhea, hemorrhaging, reduced feed
consumption, and diminished rumen function.
Adding an approved preservative like
Crop Cure® at ensiling, proper
packing, and fermentation can reduce this
problem.
It is also important to feed off at
least 2-3 inches per day in cold weather,
and 4-5 inches in warm weather.
Bloat is another concern with feeding
high moisture corn.
The addition of an ionophore such as
Rumensin or Bovatec, seems to help reduce or
eliminate bloating problems.
If you think you may have a mold or
yeast problem, have your corn analyzed.
Another
area to pay close attention to is bunk
management.
Rolled high moisture corn will
contain fines, and the moisture in the corn
will also soften the pellets.
Therefore it is critical to feed so
that all areas of the bunk are cleaned
thoroughly and remove any build up of fines
prior to the next feeding.
Recently
harvested corn that has not been ensiled can
also safely be fed just like dry corn if it
meets several requirements:
-
The
corn moisture is below 24 percent.
If it is above 24 percent, follow
the chart above.
-
Corn
that is over 15 percent moisture should
not be stored for more than 2 days if
the temperature is warmer then 20° F.
-
Corn
that is properly preserved and less than
24 percent moisture is safe to feed.
If it is more than 24 percent, it
should be rolled and fed with coarse
roughage according to the above chart.
What
about feeding high moisture ear corn?
Ensiled ear corn is safe to feed,
although the rate of gain will be reduced
due to the volume of cob included.
When feeding ensiled high moisture
ear corn, the corn must be course ground
prior to fermenting and roughage should be
added.
Feeding
high moisture corn can be a viable option
for feeding
Holstein
steers as long as recommended feeding
guidelines are followed, bunk management is
watched closely, and cattle are fed a
properly supplemented protein pellet like
Tend-R-Leen to prevent health problems and
maximize gains.
Tend-R-Leen
profits look good!
Even
though corn prices continue to remain high,
profits on Tend-R-Leen steers look very good
given cheaper calf and feeder prices, and a
strong fat market outlook.
Starting
Weight
|
|
100
lbs.
|
350
lbs.
|
700
lbs.
|
|
Purchase
cost
|
$50
|
$315
|
$525
|
|
Finish
weight
|
1300
lbs.
|
1300
lbs.
|
1300
lbs.
|
|
Selling
price
|
$0.92
|
$0.92
|
$0.92
|
|
Corn
|
$4.50
|
$4.50
|
$4.50
|
|
Expected
income
|
$1,196
|
$1,196
|
$1,196
|
|
Expected
profit
|
$295.75
|
$211.25
|
$184.57
|
|
Break
even
|
$0.69
|
$0.76
|
$0.78
|
