corn field?

[dompeters84]

I have a 200 acre cut corn field that is fenced in all but one side. It is rotated between corn and beans each year. My question is would it be worth while for me to fence off the remaining side and put my cows in it. I have about 30 head of angus cattle that would go out. Also how much time would I get out of it? Would they eat anything when it is a cut bean field? would you suppliment with anything? I am in west central Illinois.

 

[kenny thomas]

If its corn stubble you can probably winter the 30 cows on it without feeding much hay.

 

[HDRider]

If its corn stubble you can probably winter the 30 cows on it without feeding much hay.

Say you ran weaned calves on this, how many (still 30ish?) and what kind of gain should you expect?

Thanks

 

[Jogeephus]

Can't answer the weight gain question cause its gonna depend on how much corn is still on site. I've seen train wrecks where people have put bred heifers in corn fields cause they got too fat.

 

[Stocker Steve]

I put a couple rangy SD cull cows out on leased stubble this fall. They are fat like a hog now but now I am having trouble catching. The sneaky black bastards lay up on a hill side during the day and come to water at night.

Folks that put weaned calves on stubble usually protein supplement with DDG.

 

[Jogeephus]

30 on 200 acres, I wouldn't but a thing out there but water and maybe mineral. All sorts of winter annuals would grow up in the soil so I'd just watchem and see how they do. They'll let you know when they need moving but I think they will be happy for a while.

 

[dompeters84]

they have plenty of water and they can get in the timber for a little shelter if needed.

 

[cowboy43]

In Texas most farmers have their tractors and plows running behind the harvester preparing the soil for the next years crop. That way it catches the winter moisture and holds it for when they start planting in February.

 

[novatech]

In Texas most farmers have their tractors and plows running behind the harvester preparing the soil for the next years crop. That way it catches the winter moisture and holds it for when they start planting in February.

Around my area they run a baler behind the harvester before plowing. Their making more off the hay than corn.

 

[TexasBred]

I have a 200 acre cut corn field that is fenced in all but one side. It is rotated between corn and beans each year. My question is would it be worth while for me to fence off the remaining side and put my cows in it. I have about 30 head of angus cattle that would go out. Also how much time would I get out of it? Would they eat anything when it is a cut bean field? would you suppliment with anything? I am in west central Illinois.

If the corn was cut seems there would be nothing left but corn stubble and whatever grass might have grown up in it. They'll get some roughage from it but you better supplement them as well.

 

[Engler]

Great way to stretch winter feed as long as you don't get too much snow or ice. Manure is where you need it. The problem is they are going to hit the whole field and eat all the corn, the circle back and get all the leaves then come back for the stalks. This could screw up their guts a little. Best way to do it would have a hot wire that you moved every X rows every Y days. That way they'll be forced to clean it up. Also there can be a bit more compaction where they travel a lot.

If I remember right from college the stalks loose 50% of their goody for every 1 inch of rain that they get on them. Also people have said that they cows don't like the GMO (especially BT) stalks near as well as what they like the conventional.

 

[dompeters84]

What do you all think about putting them in when its a cut bean field next year?

 

[terra8186]

Most cut bean fields I have seen are bare ground. I can't see a benefit for very long.

I would love to put cattle on my corn field. I see all of the corn on the ground just going to waste. I figure there is 350 lbs of grain per acre sitting on the ground after they get done combining.

 

[kenny thomas]

I have a 200 acre cut corn field that is fenced in all but one side. It is rotated between corn and beans each year. My question is would it be worth while for me to fence off the remaining side and put my cows in it. I have about 30 head of angus cattle that would go out. Also how much time would I get out of it? Would they eat anything when it is a cut bean field? would you suppliment with anything? I am in west central Illinois.

If the corn was cut seems there would be nothing left but corn stubble and whatever grass might have grown up in it. They'll get some roughage from it but you better supplement them as well.

TB, I did not notice that it said cut. If that is as in silege there would not be nothing left. You are correct. I was thinking combined with the stalks left there.

 

[jedstivers]

Corn stuble is great, 30 on 200 should carry them almost by itself. If you strip it and don't let them have it all at once it will help a lot. On the beans not anything unless you can get wheat to grow where you are. Fly it in before beans are cut and you will get good grazing. I'm flying oats and ryegrass into corn and cotton and grazing those. Been using wheat but this year I changed up and like the oat/ryegrass better but your to far north for that.

 

[ANAZAZI]

It is also possible to grow beans on half and corn on half, so every winter they have 100 acres of corn stubble. And I agree that some electric fencing to ration it makes most of crop residue like that.

 

[TexasBred]

Corn stuble is great, 30 on 200 should carry them almost by itself. If you strip it and don't let them have it all at once it will help a lot. On the beans not anything unless you can get wheat to grow where you are. Fly it in before beans are cut and you will get good grazing. I'm flying oats and ryegrass into corn and cotton and grazing those. Been using wheat but this year I changed up and like the oat/ryegrass better but your to far north for that.

Jed noone around here grazes corn stubble....would those 30 head gain any weight or hold their weight on stubble alone? hardly any protein and seems they'd burn about as much energy eating and digesting it as they would get from it. Down this way there is very little grain left in the field after cutting so it seems some protein supplementation would be required.

 

[agmantoo]

Regarding the year when the soybeans are grown......Why not broadcast cereal rye behind the combine and graze that? Come Spring burn down the rye residue and sod plant the corn.

 

[user1]

If you have a little corn left in the field along with some leaves go for it.. Let them pick the gravy and then add some protein and the cows will do great. Sure is a heck of a lot cheaper than feeding them. Grazing might be the only thing that puts your cattle enterprise in the black. Putting out feed is almost a sure fire way to run them in the red.

 

[jedstivers]

Corn stuble is great, 30 on 200 should carry them almost by itself. If you strip it and don't let them have it all at once it will help a lot. On the beans not anything unless you can get wheat to grow where you are. Fly it in before beans are cut and you will get good grazing. I'm flying oats and ryegrass into corn and cotton and grazing those. Been using wheat but this year I changed up and like the oat/ryegrass better but your to far north for that.

Jed noone around here grazes corn stubble....would those 30 head gain any weight or hold their weight on stubble alone? hardly any protein and seems they'd burn about as much energy eating and digesting it as they would get from it. Down this way there is very little grain left in the field after cutting so it seems some protein supplementation would be required.

There is lots of ear corn left behind harvest even though it doesn't look like it. If its striped so they don't get it all at the first of the winter it will help a lot. And I did say almost :lol: