Your guide to grazing corn residue efficiently and profitably, with research-based recommendations for stocking, supplementation, residue quality, and managing agreements between cattle and crop producers.
Corn Residue Grazing Basics: Stocking Rate
Answers questions about how many cows a field can support, how long cattle can graze, and how stocking rate affects diet quality over time.
Change in Corn Residue Feeding Value Over the Winter
Explains whether corn residue quality changes through winter and how wind loss affects the amount of available energy later in the grazing season.
Quality of Residue from GMO Corn vs. Non-GMO Corn
Addresses whether corn hybrid type affects residue feeding value and what factors actually drive cattle performance on residue.
Meeting Cattle Nutritional Needs
Answers questions about whether corn residue meets cow nutrient needs and when supplementation may be required for different classes of cattle.
Adjusting Grazing Based on Residue Quality
Helps determine how leaf and husk quality influence grazing duration, supplementation decisions, and which cattle groups fit a field best.
Impacts of Cattle Grazing Corn Residue
Addresses concerns about soil compaction, residue cover, and effects on subsequent crop yields.
Nutrient Removal by Cows Grazing Corn Residue
Explains how much residue and nutrients cattle remove and what that means for soil fertility and crop management.
Rental Agreements for Grazing Corn Residue
Helps identify key questions to address in grazing agreements, including pricing, stocking rate, timing, and responsibilities.
Dealing With Down Corn
Answers how to estimate downed grain, manage cattle intake, and reduce acidosis risk when grazing fields with excessive ear drop.
funding statement
Funding provided by USDA-NIFA through the C.A.R.E. program (Grant No. 13081944), under the project titled Developing Adaptive Grazing Management Strategies for Optimizing Corn Residue Use.