Feeding Baled Corn Stalks

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Mueller Show Cattle

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Oct 26, 2010
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Glenrock, Wyoming
I am looking to buy 6 to 7 tons of baled corn stalks and was wondering if there is any danger with feeding corn stalks? I know there is very little nutrition value in them and I am going to feed them as a filler. All my cows are in very good body condition but they are eating me out of hay. So I wanted to put some corn stalks in the feeder between feeding round hay bales to stretch out my hay, so I know I will have plenty of hay to get me through winter and spring. I also put out protein lick tubs and loose mineral, so I am just using the corn stalks as a filler between feeding hay. I don't know if they will like it as much as the grass alfalfa hay but I figure if they are hungry, they will eat it. So I just want to make sure there are no dangers with feeding corn stalks as I have never fed them before. With it almost a 1/3 of the price of hay around here, figured it would be a good filler. So you that feed corn stalks or have before, if you could let me know if I have to look out for anything with feeding them. Thanks for any information.
 

hevmando

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Ruskin, MN
In drought years, testing them for nitrate levels is a good management decision to prevent/avoid nitrate poisoning.
 

hntwhitetail

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If you are feeding a lot, I always have heard you have to watch out for the dust causing respitory problems.
 

HAB

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North Dakota
We have fed cornstalks many years.  Both replies have been right on as for any concerns.

If they were flail shredded prior to baling, they may be dustier, but also more able to be utilized.

The cows will love them.  Ours leave the good hay to go get some cornstalks.
 

GoWyo

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We have put corn stalk bales in old round water tanks so they can eat them free choice between feedings of good alfalfa.  Probably not much nitrate if they were cured out when baled.  Only bad thing that ever happened was an older cow pushed a young cow into the "feeder" and she got stuck upside down between the remains of the corn stalk bale and the side wall of the tank with her feet sticking out and died.  Other than that little freak accident it has worked well.
 

nkotb

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Quinter, KS
GoWyo said:
We have put corn stalk bales in old round water tanks so they can eat them free choice between feedings of good alfalfa.  Probably not much nitrate if they were cured out when baled.  Only bad thing that ever happened was an older cow pushed a young cow into the "feeder" and she got stuck upside down between the remains of the corn stalk bale and the side wall of the tank with her feet sticking out and died.  Other than that little freak accident it has worked well.

Just so there's no confusion, you can't "cure out" nitrates, if they were in the plant when they were harvested, they will be there when it is fed with one exception, ensiling.  In our neck of the woods nitrate has not been an issue this year, even with the drought, however, a $25 test beats the heck out of losing a couple cows.  The dust can be a real issue as can there being a lot of grain left in the bales.  If there is a lot of grain there is always the chance for bloat, or as we're finding out, a very high energy level can lead to excessive hoof growth.
 

Mueller Show Cattle

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Glenrock, Wyoming
I talked with the guy earlier today, as I had been looking for some for a week or so and found a guy today through the feed mill in Torrington Wyoming I use. He said there is good leaf left on the stalks and are baled in 3 X 4 square bales 850 to 1,000lb bales. So I was going to put corn stalks out after they finish the hay bale and rotate the bales while having protein lick tubs out and loose mineral. I also give them some 20% cake also from time to time, so I think I'm covered on nutrition, just was wanting a nonexpensive filler. Guy told me that a couple guys have been feeding nothing but corn stalks to rodeo stock and lick tubs and have not had any trouble, but I'm just looking for the filler to make my hay last through winter and spring. Thanks for all your information. Harley, we will have to hook up at the NWSS and have a beer that I missed last year.  <beer>
 

HAB

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North Dakota
Big M Show Cattle said:
Harley, we will have to hook up at the NWSS and have a beer that I missed last year.  <beer>

Brad,

Will do.  We will have a bull in the herd bull alley on Thursday through Sunday, and in the Yards with Galloways until Tuesday.  Cooler will be full.  Stop by.

Harley
 

furinsilex

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Sep 25, 2008
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Middletown Missouri
We were short on hay a few years ago and fed a  bunch of corn stalks that we drenched with a molasses/protein mix first.  fed alternating with orchard grass/ alfalfa mix.  We got along ok.  One thing we had trouble with was cows that are farther along in gestation wanted to rectally prolapse.  Seemed that the cows just had more trouble digesting them and caused them to dry out.  Mostly on older cows.
 
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