As livestock producers struggle to find forage, they’re being encouraged to use methods to improve the feed value of corn stover and low-quality hay.
Workshops showing how producers can double the feeds’ protein content as well as improve digestibility will be held beginning this week in Missouri.
Ammoniation of corn stover, at a cost of about $25/ton of forage, is one of the methods to be discussed. The other, demonstrated by University of Missouri (MU) beef nutritionist Justin Sexten, involves treating processed corn stover with calcium hydroxide.
Sexten, the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association are working together to host the workshops, which will be held:
Sept. 11 at Joplin Regional Stockyards, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 13 at the Brent Martin farm in Anutt, 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 at the MU Thompson Research Center Field Day near Spickard, 9 a.m.
Sept. 20 at the MU Beef Research and Teaching Farm in Columbia, 6 p.m.
Sept. 25 at the MU Forage Systems Research Center Field Day near Linneus, 9 a.m.
Sept. 27 at Triple V Farms in Perryville, 6 p.m.
Farmers interested in buying or selling corn stover or hay as feedstocks are encouraged to visit these online forage directories:
Missouri Cattlemen's Association Hay Directory
Missouri Department of Agriculture Hay Directory
For more on treating corn stover, wheat straw or other alternative feedstuffs, see our recent Hay & Forage Grower stories, “Ammoniated Roughages: An Alternate Feed Fix” and “Corn Stover As Dairy Feed?”