Whole Corn vs. Cracked Corn

[steve2014]

I was wondering if there is any benefits to feeding cracked corn over whole corn?

 

[cowman 52]

Whole corn will pretty much go straight throuh a cow, the cow's gut can't break the seed covering,  cracked corn is somewhat better,  I would soak it before feeding.  cooking the whole corn is about the most cost effective way to go.

 

[RyanChandler]

Whole corn will pretty much go straight throuh a cow, the cow's gut can't break the seed covering, 

Terribly inaccurate and untrue. 

 

[chambero]

If you are asking about feeding it to show animals the answer is definitely yes - it is more digestible than whole corn.  Steam rolled is marginally better than cracked.  My custom rations use cracked.

 

[cowman 52]

Whole corn will pretty much go straight throuh a cow, the cow's gut can't break the seed covering, 

Terribly inaccurate and untrue.

Feed a bunch of it and see how much is in the droppings and tell it to me one more time

 

[hamburgman]

For a while some people told me that whole corn will give you the same results as cracked corn.  Then I looked in the yard after the cattle were sold and saw corn growing all over from all the corn they ate, crapped out, and basically fertilized.  So I fail to see how corn can go through a bovine and grow and still be beneficial to the critter.

 

[CAB]

Link below that the data has research behind it.

http://beefextension.com/proceedings/cattle_grains06/06-10.pdf

 

[Cardinal_Crest_Shorthorns]

Ruminants can definitely digest processed corn (cracked, ground, steamed) better than shelled corn. Just like some have already stated, the digestive system of cattle can't break down the shell. We feed a lot of cracked corn. However, we have recently started feeding some ground ear corn. The cob serves as a good fiber source and the cattle seem to like the taste and texture.

I think we have a tendency to over-complicate feeding show cattle in general. I always find it interesting when people brag about what a great show ration they have, but there is almost as much of the ingredients laying in the manure behind the cattle as there is in the food pan. There is hardly a better judge of feed rationing and digestive efficiency than a good ol' pile of manure.

 

[CAB]

Ruminants can definitely digest processed corn (cracked, ground, steamed) better than shelled corn. Just like some have already stated, the digestive system of cattle can't break down the shell. We feed a lot of cracked corn. However, we have recently started feeding some ground ear corn. The cob serves as a good fiber source and the cattle seem to like the taste and texture.

I think we have a tendency to over-complicate feeding show cattle in general. I always find it interesting when people brag about what a great show ration they have, but there is almost as much of the ingredients laying in the manure behind the cattle as there is in the food pan. There is hardly a better judge of feed rationing and digestive efficiency than a good ol' pile of manure.

Did you read the study in the link. There are many that state the same results. You can just see shelled corn much easier than cracked corn. Ground ear corn is God's perfect cattle feed IMO. Just needs a little protein to balance it for cattle. 40% roughage / 60% concentrate. Some whole kernals , some cracked kernals.

 

[RyanChandler]

Many people need to pick up a phone and call a nutritionist. Same thing with all these foo foo supplements people ask about on here.  Call and get an objective opinion. 

What you think you see in the manure, and the reality of what is left are not the same.  Just because you are left with a shell/exoskeleton, doesn't mean the nutrients haven't been utilized.  There are many cost analysis of when to use whole versus cracked.  Clearly, crimped is the best. But how much more does it cost over cracked versus whole.  How much more whole corn can I purchase/feed for the same dollar amount as cracked/crimped.

 

[oakview]

I just googled feeding shelled corn and the top response was a study done by Ohio State comparing feeding shelled corn and processed corn.

From the study:  "Dry processing (cracking, rolling) has only small effects on starch digestion. For long fed calves (greater than 170 days) feeding whole corn may result in better gains and efficiencies than feeding dry processed corn."

My dad sold Moorman's feed for 25 years.  They had extensive research that showed how and why shelled corn was better for feedlot cattle on a high energy diet.  In the 70's and 80's we fed a lot of cattle a high moisture shelled corn/protein/limited roughage ration.  There were some feedlot operators that included a plastic pellet in the ration to serve as the lone roughage source.  The pellet was mixed right in with the corn and protein.

That being said, I'm smarter than the experts, too, and very rarely feed whole shelled corn because I can't stand to see the "leftover kernels."  Years ago, we used to run a few hogs in the feedlot to clean up the "leftover."  It was a very common practice.

Prior to the late 70's and 80's, we fed a ton of cattle high moisture ground ear corn.  We set up a grinder right by several silos and filled them to the brim with the stuff.  I agree that is the best feed ever invented.  Of course, that was before we were "educated" by the experts and got rid of the ear corn picker and bought a combine.

 

[Cardinal_Crest_Shorthorns]

Ruminants can definitely digest processed corn (cracked, ground, steamed) better than shelled corn. Just like some have already stated, the digestive system of cattle can't break down the shell. We feed a lot of cracked corn. However, we have recently started feeding some ground ear corn. The cob serves as a good fiber source and the cattle seem to like the taste and texture.

I think we have a tendency to over-complicate feeding show cattle in general. I always find it interesting when people brag about what a great show ration they have, but there is almost as much of the ingredients laying in the manure behind the cattle as there is in the food pan. There is hardly a better judge of feed rationing and digestive efficiency than a good ol' pile of manure.

Did you read the study in the link. There are many that state the same results. You can just see shelled corn much easier than cracked corn. Ground ear corn is God's perfect cattle feed IMO. Just needs a little protein to balance it for cattle. 40% roughage / 60% concentrate. Some whole kernals , some cracked kernals.

The link was posted as i was typing my comment so I hadn't had time to read it before my post was made, so I suppose I stand corrected. Also I guess my second paragraph is more about my opinion of feeding show cattle in general. I think a lot of money is wasted on feeds just because of the name they carry or how they are advertised. There is often more than one way to achieve the same objective. A big part of determining feed stuffs is what is most economically efficient.

 

[CAB]

I wasn't picking on you I hope that you don't think that & I agree with most of what you said & it does depend on the size of cattle that a person is feeding and if they are on full feed as to which type of corn in the ration is most efficient, my point is that without researching or testing PPL shouldn't make statement that may not be quite right. Now if your want to make your feedlot more efficient, feed whole shelled corn and buy a bunch of wet sows to glean the lot behind the cattle. Oh that was yesterday!!

 

[RyanChandler]

I just googled feeding shelled corn and the top response was a study done by Ohio State comparing feeding shelled corn and processed corn.

From the study:  "Dry processing (cracking, rolling) has only small effects on starch digestion. For long fed calves (greater than 170 days) feeding whole corn may result in better gains and efficiencies than feeding dry processed corn."

My dad sold Moorman's feed for 25 years.  They had extensive research that showed how and why shelled corn was better for feedlot cattle on a high energy diet.  In the 70's and 80's we fed a lot of cattle a high moisture shelled corn/protein/limited roughage ration.  There were some feedlot operators that included a plastic pellet in the ration to serve as the lone roughage source.  The pellet was mixed right in with the corn and protein.

That being said, I'm smarter than the experts, too, and very rarely feed whole shelled corn because I can't stand to see the "leftover kernels."  Years ago, we used to run a few hogs in the feedlot to clean up the "leftover."  It was a very common practice.

I've fed many calves this ration too- with the Moorman's protein supplement w/ Monensin.  80% whole corn 20% protein supplement and ZERO roughage.  most were fed 8-9 MONTHS on this and never had the problems the commoners associate w/ this type ration.

You have to lose this "leftover kernel" thought behind.  The shell casing is left behind.  Most of the nutrients within have been utilized. Think osmosis is you will. 

 

[Tyler]

I wasn't picking on you I hope that you don't think that & I agree with most of what you said & it does depend on the size of cattle that a person is feeding and if they are on full feed as to which type of corn in the ration is most efficient, my point is that without researching or testing PPL shouldn't make statement that may not be quite right. Now if your want to make your feedlot more efficient, feed whole shelled corn and buy a bunch of wet sows to glean the lot behind the cattle. Oh that was yesterday!!

Dad and Grandpa called that the "hot lunch program"

 

[cowman 52]

If you have corn sprouting on the ground in the manure, the thought that it is "just the shell" ought to make you think something ain't right.
High moisture corn is a lot different from grain that has been stored in a bin for 3 to 6 months.
Talk apples and apples not this and that.

 

[twc77]

If you have corn sprouting on the ground in the manure, the thought that it is "just the shell" ought to make you think something ain't right.
High moisture corn is a lot different from grain that has been stored in a bin for 3 to 6 months.
Talk apples and apples not this and that.

Not real sure about high moisture corn but dry bin run corn with monesin, bovatec,rumesin whatever you fancy works good for us. Take a sample out of the pie crack it with fingers pliers whatever you like and it is most always empty with the starch having disappeared.

 

[RyanChandler]

Sounds like a man that's fed some cattle right to me

 

[ejoe326]

I would pay someone well to come in to pick and process ear corn.  But I'm afraid in our area those days are long gone.

We started feeding out of a bin today that has been there about 2 weeks.  I had planned on cracking it but had a grinder issue so they are getting scuffed up whole corn in the ration instead.  These are 5-6 weight cattle that have been weaned for a while so much smaller than I prefer.  The calves were pretty enthusiastic and I do not dislike shelled corn so we will see how they do.