Corn can be an excellent option for meeting your livestock’s energy needs during the winter months. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when determining if it is the right option for your operation.
The following article was written by Natasha Wilkie, the livestock and feed extension specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture in Weyburn.
One of the main risks of grazing corn is acidosis and this occurs when ruminant animals (cattle, sheep, bison, goats) suddenly change from a diet high in fibre or roughage (hay) to a low fibre, high concentrate feed (barley, wheat, corn). As the plant matures, energy density increases and stalk size increases. If the animals are put out onto a crop that’s more mature, they will want to eat the cobs, rather than the stalks.
To prevent acidosis when grazing corn, you can limit their access by providing three days of grazing at a time. This will minimize their ability to eat only cobs and will encourage your animals to eat the entire plant, keeping an even plane of nutrition while also encouraging them to clean up what is there. Providing good quality hay, free choice, can also reduce the risk of acidosis when grazing standing corn.
Another option is chopping your corn into swaths. One rancher in the southeast chopped his corn into swaths with a six-row header. He combined the swaths so that 12 to 18 rows were placed into one swath. His goal was to have bulkier swaths to offer more product and decrease waste while providing his cows with an even plane of energy with each bite. Once the corn was chopped into swaths, he cross-fenced so the animals had access to three days of grazing, which eventually was expanded to one week. A couple of things to consider in this scenario: if a large snowfall happened – the swaths could be covered or freeze/thaw cycles could mean parts of the chopped corn are embedded in ice and not available to the animal.
If you take one thing away from this information today, knowing the maturity and nutrient content of your corn can go a long way in preventing acidosis when grazing corn. For more information, contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377
