cracked vs. shelled corn?

kyplowboy · May 17, 2010

Quick question. I know cows will digest cracked corn better than shelled. Any one know what the percentage is? Seems like craked keeps going up in price more than bags of shelled. (I know buy'n corn in a bag is dumb, but my only gravity flow wagon is tied up with soy hulls and the wife wants to put a steer in the freezer.)

Dave

ILLEFTY · May 17, 2010

We still have an old time feed mill in our area. I just call them and tell them how much cracked corn I need and if I want any molasses mixed in. They crack it and put it in sacks and it's waiting for me on the loading dock. Only cost a little more than corn per bushel

thurlow · May 17, 2010

The information should be out there, maybe on the KY Ag Extension Service site. Been a while since I fed any cattle, but my memory says they'll digest whole shelled corn just as good as cracked/ground.

Lloyd Sorlien · May 17, 2010

When I fed cattle I always used just shelled corn and hay. They done good on it.

JD Seller · May 17, 2010

Cattle will not digest whole shelled corn as well as ground or cracked. The rate of gain is about 15% different. They will do okay but you will feed more shelled corn.
Where you are there in KY there should be feed mills that would still grind and mix a finish ration for you. Your cattle really need more than just corn and hay. Unless you are feeding them high quality hay they usually need more protein. I have between five and six hundred on feed all of the time.

JMS/.MN · May 18, 2010

Fed a lot of steers on the DoBoy pellet program- just shelled corn and protein pellets, bit of hay or cornstalk bedding for a bit of roughage. Very common for Holstein steers in dairy areas. Several neighbors have hundreds on feed at any time.

cracked vs. shelled corn?

kyplowboy

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ILLEFTY

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thurlow

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Lloyd Sorlien

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JD Seller

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JMS/.MN

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