CattleNetwork.com, KS
10-16-07
Special Management Needed Before Releasing Cattle Into Damaged Cornfields
AMES, Iowa – Due to heavy rainfall and strong winds in August, 10-15 percent of
Iowa’s corn crop has suffered moderate to heavy lodging, according to an Iowa
State University Extension specialist. For cattle producers, this means more
corn left in the field for feed. Cornfields in northern and southwest Iowa were hit
especially hard by weather, said Roger Elmore, ISU Extension corn specialist
and agronomy professor. So, it’s wise to think about turning beef cows out into
those fields to utilize the downed corn, he said.
“It would be a good year to glean some of that for livestock,” Elmore said.
However, producers should take some precautionary management steps in order
to help prevent cattle from overloading on corn, which can result in health
problems, said Russ Euken, an ISU Extension beef field specialist who
works with the Iowa Beef Center at ISU.
Overloading on corn can cause rumen acidosis, a condition caused by a rapid
increase in rumen lactic acid, which occurs from a sudden change in diet. The
condition can cause death in severe cases, but it can also lead to laminitis
(founder foot) and increase the animal’s susceptibility to infections.
To avoid such health problems, it’s important to condition the cattle prior to
turnout. As such, the Iowa Beef Center recommends using the following regimen
for the three days prior to release. The rations are best administered in split
feedings.
Day 1: Feed 8 pounds of corn
Day 2: Feed 12 pounds of corn
Day 3: Feed 12-15 pounds of corn
Signs of overload after releasing the cattle into the fields include scouring
(diarrhea) and rapid bloating, Euken said. In severe cases, seek treatment
quickly from a local veterinarian.
Also to help overload, Euken said producers can strip graze the area (allowing
cattle access to just a portion of the field each day), which will better utilize the
corn and cornstalks, as well as limit how much corn is available on a daily basis.
For more information, contact the Iowa Beef Center at www.iowabeefcenter.org,
beefcenter@iastate.edu, or 515-294-BEEF.