COLUMBUS, Ohio — Corn harvest in Ohio was put behind schedule thanks to the mid-November snowfall across much of the state. Weather can always be a detriment. Insect pests are a problem that never goes away as well.

Long after the corn harvest, another danger lurks: corn stubble. While this crop residue doesn’t mean much to the urban dweller, farmers know too well that these unwanted pieces of shard are to blame for numerous tractor flat tires. 

Curse the corn stubble? Not so fast.

Livestock producers looking for a relatively easy and inexpensive feed source can turn to their harvested cornfields and that spiky-looking stubble for the answer.

“The residue left on the field after harvesting corn can be used to meet the nutrient needs of ruminant livestock in early to mid-gestation,” says Rory Lewandowski, Ohio State University Extension Specialist and forage expert from Wooster, Ohio. “As the corn harvest continues, producers shouldn’t overlook corn stalks as a viable feed resource.”

Generally, corn residue is comprised of 49 percent stalks, 27 percent leaves and 12 percent each of husks and cobs, according to a 2004 University of Nebraska report on corn stalk grazing, Lewandowski said.

“After the combine goes through the field, the residue that is left includes the stalk, husks, leaves, corn kernels and cobs,” he said.

“Studies have shown there can be about a bushel of corn grain per acre that could be out there on these fields.

“Livestock typically will eat any corn grain first. Then, livestock typically will eat the plant leaves and husks, with the residual cobs and stalks typically eaten last.”

Others agree. Frank Wardynski, ruminant educator with Michigan State University Extension, says that dry cows and heifers can be cost effectively fed rations including these corn stalks.

“Care must be taken to ensure that inclusion rates are not too high that animal performance is negatively impacted,” he said. “Producers using total mixed ration feeding systems will need to grind the bales to incorporate them into the ration.”

Both experts say some farmers have been incorporating corn residue in their livestock feed, but that more should be doing it.

“This is a viable resource that is available and can be utilized by livestock. Take advantage of it – don’t overlook corn stalks as a viable and valuable feed resource,” Lewandowski said. “In addition to the nutritional benefit corn residue grazing can allow livestock, that grazing can also provide a break for perennial grass pastures and allow those grass plants to build up carbohydrate reserves during the fall period.”