How to Feed Corn Stalks to a Cow

Feeding cattle can be a challenge, especially during times of drought. Most ranchers feed their cattle a diet of hay supplemented with grain to encourage weight gain, but hot weather and a lack of precipitation dries out grass before it can be cut and baled as hay. Corn stalks are more resistant to drought than grass, and are an acceptable foraging material when hay is scarce.

Things You'll Need

  • Corn stalks
  • Feed bin
  • Water trough
  • Corn-based grain
  • Calcium supplement
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Instructions

    • 1

      Inspect your corn stalks for mold or fungus. If your stalks are baled, cut open a bale and separate the stalks with your fingers, discarding moldy bales. If your supply includes loose stalks, pull them apart with your hands and throw out inedible pieces. Moldy stalks cause serious digestive upset in cows and should not be fed under any circumstances.

    • 2

      Lay the stalks out in the feed bin, spreading them evenly along the bin so each cow gets enough to eat. Corn stalks should be fed at a rate according to the cow's age and use. Dry cows without calves need approximately 31 pounds of clean stalks a day, while lactating cows need 27 pounds to maintain weight and milk production. Growing calves will ingest an average of 15 pounds of stalks each day.

    • 3

      Fill the water trough with fresh water. Corn stalks are drier than most types of hay, and the cows will drink extra water to compensate for the lack of moisture. If your herd dips their stalks in water as they eat, scoop out stray stalks before they have a chance to decompose in the trough.

    • 4

      Supplement your cows with corn-based grain mixture to make up for the lack of nutrients in dry stalks. Lactating cows and growing calves need 5 pounds of grain each day, which can be spread over their corn stalks at feeding time.

    • 5

      Add a calcium supplement to the cows' rations when feeding stalks. Corn stalks are high in phosphorous, and extra calcium is necessary to combat mineral imbalances. Read the label carefully, and pour the appropriate dose of supplement over the grain before feeding.