Whole Corn for Cows?

[lovinglife]

Is it ok to feed whole corn to steers? I have a good source of whole corn but it seems so hard, can they eat it and do they get any good from it?

Thanks!

 

[BrownSheep]

I think whole corn would be a little hard for them to digest. Most people I know give rolled corn.

 

[jhm47]

They can eat whole corn just fine, but a lot of it will pass through them undigested. If you have chickens, they will be happily picking through the "pies". Rolling the corn is best for the most efficient digestion.

 

[redtailgal]

Last time we fed whole corn...........there was corn plants sprouting up all over the pasture.

It was a waste of money, they couldnt digest it.

 

[lovinglife]

Thanks for the replies, I read that they digest 88% of it, but that seemed hard to believe to me. If they did digest that much of it that would be great, and as you said, the chickens enjoy the "left overs". I think I will stick to rolled, it just costs twice as much.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Is coarse cracked any cheaper?

 

[greybeard]

Every small farm used to feed whole corn--that's what the corn crib was for. Some had a corn sheller that was used both for shelling to make cornmeal from and animal feed. Others had a sheller and grinder--the whole cob was often ground up for feed, cows turned in to graze the stalks and/or stubble if the stalks were cut and shocked. Nowdays, there are just better feeds available. I've shocked stalks when I was a kid--always full of ants.

 

[herdsman]

I have fed whole corn but its harder for them best to shell it, but if your gettin it for free give it to them because they can eat it its just harder.

 

[kenfromMaine]

When I feed whole corn if its only for a few I take and put it in 5 gallon buckets and let it soak for a day or two, It does soften it and you wont find as much in the patties.