Livestock
Not Just for humans
People aren't the only ones eating corn, we also feed it to animals! Corn helps us feed animals for food production and is a great way to reduce the amount of land needed to raise animals.
Cattle
Corn is used for cattle in the "feeder" stage. Cows eat only grass for most of their life, but the last few months we can feed them corn, grass, and some other thing so they can make great steaks! Dairy cows eat a lot of corn to help them make great milk!
Pigs
Corn is great for pig farmers because it is often cheaper than other ingredients and can meet a pigs nutritional needs! It's important to remember that livestock feed consist of many ingredients, it's never just one thing!
Chickens
Corn is one of the main cereal grains used to feed commercial chickens in the United States. Corn is usually ground up into a powder when fed to livestock because it is easier for them to eat and digest.
Is it okay to feed animals corn?
Yes! The great thing about cereal grains like corn are that we can produce them on a large scale for relatively low cost. Lowering the cost of feeding animals helps make meat cheaper for us in the grocery store. Feeding grains to livestock can also help reduce our overall environmental impact from agriculture.
Check out this blog from Ryan Goodman of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association to learn more about feeding corn to cows.
Double the use
A great thing about growing corn is we can get double the use! Cows can be allowed to graze a corn field after it has been harvested and will eat the stalks left in the ground. Using cattle to graze corn fields helps reduce the cost of beef and is more environmentally friendly!
Growing MARSHMALLOWS?
Have you driven by a field and seen these giant rolls of white? It may look like they are growing giant marshmallows but it is actually silage! Silage is when we harvest a crop while it is still green & wet, and feed it to animals, versus allowing the crop to dry first. Silage is often made out of corn but can be made from other grasses as well.
Not Just For Livestock
Livestock aren't the only animals we can feed corn to. Do you have a pet? Have your parent help you take a look at the ingredient list of your pet food and see if they are eating corn too!
