| Whether you buy
your corn or raise it yourself, you need to evaluate
the grain before feeding it to cattle. High
quality corn is a key input in steer performance.
On the other hand, poor quality corn can lead to
significant problems. Carefully look your corn
over for any of the following:
Moldy
grain
is a serious problem. Grain that is moldy is usually
unpalatable and may have a disagreeable odor. Many
grains, especially corn, can produce dangerous amounts
of poisonous fungal toxins called aflotoxins.
These are formed by the growth of mold fungus, usually
Aspergillus flavis. Moldy grains are often
unfit for feed or food uses.
Cracked
grain is
unsuitable for certain grain products but has no real
impact on grain quality. Cracked grain is primarily an
economic rather than a feeding value concern. One
disadvantage to cracked grain is that it does not
store for long periods of time. Oils in the cracked
grain break down, which can cause a rancid taste and
odor. Cracked grain is also more susceptible to insect
infestation.
Insects,
living or dead, are sometimes found in grain. The
presence of insects indicates that the grain had been
stored at too high a temperature or moisture content.
Insect feeding activities can rapidly deteriorate
grain. If you feed it promptly, weevilly grain is not
necessarily undesirable as a feed.
Rolled
or ground grains
present special problems in evaluation. Be alert for
unusual color or objectionable odors. Look for
uniformity in the feed--grain or grain-weed-seed mixes
should still be detectable.
These are
the major factors to consider when you evaluate grain
for feed use. All these factors are considered when a
USDA grain grade is assigned to a lot of grain. If
possible, have your grain officially sampled and
graded before you contract for purchase. Contact your
local elevator operator for the address of the nearest
USDA grain-grading service.
Information from: R.S
Karow and A. Hilliker, Extension & Station
Communications, Oregon State University
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