Corn Husk/Shuck?

[robertwhite]

Can corn shucks be fed to cattle?

What about the silk and small pieces of cob?

 

[kenny thomas]

Sure it can.

 

[H and H]

Our cows will graze harvested corn fields, eating most of the residue out there, until the snow gets deep.

Most feeders will bale the stover and use it for feed. They are an economical feed source when ground and mixed with wet distillers grains from the ethanol plant.

There are a couple large yards grinding straight corn cobs (byproduct of cellulosic ethanol mfg. trials) and using them as a feed stuff.

 

[robertwhite]

OK, but as far as the cobs (pieces), how do they digest them? I would imagine they cant chew them.

 

[H and H]

Cows will eat the cob, I dont know how much good its doing them, but they will eat it.

NDSU has a publication which lists corn cobs @ 2.8% protein and TDN of 47%.

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/livestoc/as1182.html

 

[TexasBred]

OK, but as far as the cobs (pieces), how do they digest them? I would imagine they cant chew them.

They don't digest most of it. They just reshape it and pass it. Basically little more than filler, thats why you have to supplement with some good quality protein and energ from some source.