by Lisa Moser, Kansas State University

Beef producers make decisions about what to feed their animals daily, and the answer often depends on the age and sex of the animal and what its job in the herd is. When deciding which type of feed to offer, cost is a consideration, says Phillip Lancaster, Kansas State University (K-State) beef cattle nutritionist.

Speaking on a recent Beef Cattle Institute (BCI) Cattle Chat podcast, Lancaster addresses a question about feeding cracked corn to steers being raised to the finished stage on the home operation.

“There is a difference in the digestibility of whole corn versus cracked corn,” he says. “Because the steer ration will have a high level of corn, there is a benefit to feeding them cracked corn, and that is about a 5% increase in the net energy of gain from that corn.”

“If the feedmills are charging $10 a ton to crack the corn, then the price of the corn needs to be about $6 per bushel or higher for that to pay off.” — Phillip Lancaster

In the case of the steers, Lancaster says the price of corn would guide his recommendation.

“Is it cost-effective to feed cracked corn? If the feedmills are charging $10 a ton to crack the corn, then the price of the corn needs to be about $6 per bushel or higher for that to pay off,” Lancaster says.

Different approach for cows

As for the cows that are getting a feed supplement along with their high-forage diet, Lancaster advises feeding whole corn instead of cracked corn.

“Because it is a lower percent of the diet, and the cows will be able to do the mechanical breakdown by chewing their cud, it is more cost-effective to feed them whole corn,” he says.

Lancaster adds that even if producers observe whole corn kernels in the feces, it doesn’t mean that the animal did not get energy from the corn.

“Whole corn will be less digested than cracked corn, but bacteria will still penetrate the hull, and some starch from the inside will be digested,” he says.

To hear the full discussion, listen to Cattle Chat on your preferred streaming platform.

Editor’s note: Lisa Moser is instructor of ag and natural resources communication at K-State, as well as serving as communication coordinator for the K-State Beef Cattle Institute and a news writer for K-State Research and Extension. [Lead photo by Gary Alvis from Getty Images.]

Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Vol. 17, No. 1-B