Why not corn silage?

[TheLoneRanger]

Why do dairies use corn silage on a grand scale but the meat industry does not? Does it do something to the meat as the animal grows what is the reason behind it?

 

[Banjo]

Why do dairies use corn silage on a grand scale but the meat industry does not? Does it do something to the meat as the animal grows what is the reason behind it?

The reason is or should be is that if you feed too much it will cause the calves to scour. My Dad tried that 30 years ago then quit because he lost too many calves to scours. There are a few around here trying to do that now....don't know how its working out.......not too many farmers like to brag about how many calves they have lost.
Now if you are putting in feeders, its cheap feed, as long as they are big enough to utilize it. Then you have to consider equipment costs, or hiring someone to chop and bag it before it turns brown.

 

[herefordlover]

we have alot of beef guys around there that use corn silage in the winter to feed there breed cows. heck u can feed it to beed calves its just a matter of not over doing it

 

[sim.-ang.king]

About 1/2 of the feed ration is corn silage at the feed yards, and i'd say about 75% of cow herds are eating on it around here this year. From 400 pound feeders to 1500 pound cows with calves.

 

[TheLoneRanger]

I am looking at trying it for bred cows over winter. Cow/calf setup. What is too much in a days ration, or is this something to try and watch? trial and error

 

[Texas PaPaw]

I am looking at trying it for bred cows over winter. Cow/calf setup. What is too much in a days ration, or is this something to try and watch? trial and error

Google "corn silage for beef cows"

Lots of info.

 

[redcowsrule33]

We use it for overwintering. I think they recommend up to 40#/hd/day with access to hay (look it up, don't trust my memory). Cows will get loose for a short time when first introduced. Biggest concerns are storage and using it fast enough to eliminate spoilage. And unless you grow it yourself or have access to a field that isn't going to make corn it is expensive to buy.

 

[TheLoneRanger]

Thank You folks. I do have the ground to grow it and area to store it, so I think I am going to go for it.

 

[sim.-ang.king]

How does corn fair out there in cali? Just wondering.

 

[skyhightree1]

we have alot of beef guys around there that use corn silage in the winter to feed there breed cows. heck u can feed it to beed calves its just a matter of not over doing it

I feed it in the winter as well

 

[TheLoneRanger]

If you have the irrigation it grows very well. My fields are planted already and just popped this week.

 

[Stocker Steve]

Its all about the money. Why would you want to go through all the work involved with silage when the grain is worth $7 a bushel ???

Dairys do use it as a combination of fiber and energy for hard keeping cows, and they don't seem to be making much money... Only good reason for feeding corn silage to a beef cow is that there are no ears on the stalks. Corn silage with grain might pencil out in a growing ration when grain prices drop, but upland hay and beets byproducts are currently cheaper here.

 

[fargus]

I hear ya Steve! The last time we fed corn silage to cows it was because feed prices had hit rock bottom and a neighbour had a 2 year old pile he sold us really cheap. Cows were pretty slick the following spring.

I was asleep at the wheel in the fall, if I'd been paying attention I could have sold a good chunk of my dry hay, bought straw and distillers grain and pocketed a pretty penny for not doing much work. Around here there almost always seems to be an opportunity to feed a cow for a lot cheaper than the traditional way of doing it.

 

[Stocker Steve]

I was asleep at the wheel in the fall, if I'd been paying attention I could have sold a good chunk of my dry hay, bought straw and distillers grain and pocketed a pretty penny for not doing much work. Around here there almost always seems to be an opportunity to feed a cow for a lot cheaper than the traditional way of doing it.

There has gotten to be a lot of competition for traditional processing by products (wet distillers, beet pulp, potatoes) here - - to the point that they pencil out similar to hay for me. These typically get delivered by a semi and a fed with a front end loader or a skid steer. The trucking is the major cost and so location is key.
Some folks with a TMR have moved to adding syrup to fiber each time they feed, or adding (low seasonal demand) wet distillers to fiber and then bagging it for later.
I think corn silage may pencil out for fattening thin cows purchased during the fall run. Any experience with this?