016—iMcutcr Farming, Saturday* February 9, 1960
Economics, management should
rule high moisture com feeding
LANCASTER Hog pro
ducers who consider feeding
high moisture corn should
base their decisions on
economics and manage
ment, rather than on nutri
tion.
“Rate of gain and feed effi
ciency are similar on high
moisture and dry corn says
J.C. Russett
“So, the economics of
alternative feeding
programs and the
producer’s ability to manage
high moisture corn feeding
and more important factors
to consider when making a
decision about high moisture
com,” the swine specialist
says.
Economics generally
favor wet over dry com,
since drying costs are
eliminated with high
moisture com. Wet com can
be harvested sooner,
minimizing field losses and
permitting fall plowing.
And, harvesting high
moisture com cuts down
handling time, since the
grain can be harvested and
loaded into storage without
delay for drying.
“High moisture com does
pose some additional
management considera
tions, one of the most impor
tant of which is spoilage,”
Russettsays.
Since wet com is high m
moisture, it’s more suscepti
ble to mold damage when ex
posed to oxygen, especially
in warm weather. As a
Berks
get rid
LEESPORT - Mark S.
Balthaser, chairman of the
Berks County Agricultural
Stabilization Conservation
Committee, announced that
funds have been made
available for multiflora rose
control under the 1980
Agricultural Conservation
Program, in Berks County.
Although funds for all
other ACP practices have
been allocated, farmers may
make a request in case
result, high moisture com
must be stored in an oxygen
limiting structure and feed
must be mixed daily or on
alternate days to prevent
spoilage before consump
tion.
“Propionic or other
organic adds can be added
to high moisture com to
delay spoilage and prevent
germination and mold
growth,” Russett says.
University researchers
recommend treatment of
wet com with 1.2 to 1.5 per
cent add before storing to
allow storage in most con
ventional structures.
Treating a mixed ration
containing high moisture
com with two ounces of add
per bushel or about four lbs.
(two quarts) per ton of feed
will delay mold formation
from 7 to 14 days.
By acid-treating high
moisture com, bog pro
ducers can take advantage
of existing storage facilities,
the research points out
However, according to
university reports, when
storing wet com for more
than nine months, drying is a
less expensive alternative.
Russett, of Master Mix
Swine division, cautions pro
ducers against feeding acid
treated wet com sooner than
three weeks after storge,
since hogs may find the feed
unpalatable until the acid
has time to disperse.
He also warns that acids
are corrosive to metals and
Co. has funds to
of multi-flora rose
additional funds would
become available or if
someone cancels their
practice.
Balthaser points out,
however, that should the
practice be started before
being notified of approval,
the producers would not be
eligible for the cost shares.
For 1980 Miltiflora Rose
Control ACP benefits are up
to 50% of the cost of the
chemicals, not to exceed an
may reduce the life of
storage bins and mixing
equipment.
Wet com feeding also re
quires that special attention
be paid to ration formula
tion, Russett continues.
“University researchers
have observed reduced
levels of Vitamin E in acid
treated wet com, and
lowered carotene content in
untreated wet com,” he ex
plains.
‘Feeders should be careful
to choose concentrates that
are Vitamin E and A for
tified to meet the needs of
hogs on high mositure com
diets.”
Producers who choose to
feed high moisture com free
choice with a concentrate
should be aware that this
feeding method increases
feed required per pound of
gain and increases the time
needed to reach market
weight.
“Since wet com is highly
palatable, pigs over
consume com and neglect
the concentrate, reducing
the diet’s protein content,”
Eussettsays.
“Optimum pig per
formance occurs when high
moisture com is rolled or
cracked and then mixed with
a meal-type or crumbhzed
concentrate,” he says, ex
plaining that the com pro
cessing prevents separation
of feed ingredients. Diets
mixed with whole wet com
and pelleted concentrates
amount specified by the
county ASC committee.
Special Tordon 10K or
other training classes are no
longer needed. All this is
required is a regular ap
plicators license which can
be received after an open
book test.
Applications for cost share
help from ASCS are being
taken at the ASCS office in
the Berks County
Agricultural Center in Bern
Township.
will result in slightly lower
performance.
Moisture levels above 28 to
30 per cent also tend to
reduce performance. The
high water content increases
the bulk of the ration, and
reduces the amount of dry
matter the pig can consume.
For this reason, any wet
com ration should be balanc
ed on a dry matter basis.
Because of the lower dry
matter content in high
moisture corn, overall
nutrient density is less than
with dry com. Since swine
eat to satisfy energy re
quirements, they will con
sume more of a high
moisture com diet As a
result a lowered level of
concentrate can be used with
high moisture diets.
“Exceptions to this are
young pigs from weaning to
60 lbs. who do not have
enough digestive tract
capacity to increase intake
on wet corn rations,”
Russettsays.
“Breeding herd diets need
not be adjusted when using
high moisture com. Since
gestatmg and lactating sows
are fed according to body
condition and production
demands, the energy level is
not as critical as with
growing-finishing rations. ’ ’