What to Look for when Winter Grazing on Corn Fields

Turning cattle out to graze on post-harvest corn stubble can rein in part of winter-feeding costs. However, it’s important to note that cattle shouldn’t be forced to graze the actual corn stalks. According to a North Dakota State University Extension beef specialist, the greatest nutritional value of a corn plant is the husk and leaf.

The cob is high in digestibility but low in protein and the stalks themselves are low in protein and digestibility. And because cattle are selective grazers, they will eat any grain first, followed by the husk and leaf. Therefore, producers should use the visual cue of an absence of husk and leaf as a signal to move the herd to the next field.

Read more on cattle grazing on corn stubble here.