Producer Question from 2009
Q: What kind of gain can I expect from 400-500 lb steers grazing cornstalks this winter utilizing a 38% (DM) CP supplement consumed at 2-3 lbs /hd/d? These would be good crossbred genetics. (December 11, 2009)
A: We get between 0.75 and 1.25 on stalks with just a protein supplement depending on amount of down corn, weather, moving them to new stalks as needed, etc. We assume 1 ac per head for 60 days for this size of calf. They won't know what they are doing at first, and will eventually learn to lselect down corn first, then husks, then leaves. Once done with leaves, you don't want to force them to consume the cobs or stalks.
I don't know if you have any UIP in the liquid, but they need some DIP and UIP. Corn stalk residue will be about 7% CP or so depending on the amount of corn grain available (this is normally low).
Our current program is to supplement either 5 lb (DM) of WCGF or 4 lb (DM) of wet distillers grains. When we do that, we increase gain from roughly 1.0 lb/d to 1.75 to 2.0 lb/d, so it works out to be pretty economical. We add calcium (limestone) and some ionophore and that is it.
Related resource: Grazing Crop Residues with Beef Cattle (Available for purchase for $2.50 at UNL Marketplace)