Is eating corn bad for cows?

Answer 1

Yes, but not all cows are fed corn; those cattle that are raised where corn is scarce are fed barley or oats. Corn and other grains are primarily fed to finishing cattle in feedlots to fatten them up in less space of time than it takes them to fatten up on grass in the pasture. Though pasture finishing is cheaper with less inputs put into finishing cattle, it takes twice as long and uses more land to finish feeder/stocker cattle than grain does. Corn and other grains are higher in energy and proteins that allow the feeders to gain quicker, but that high energy ration has its trade-offs. Cattle are ruminants with stomachs designed to eat poorer-quality forages that what is normally found in grains, such as grass and legumes. The rumen has a neutral acditiy of a pH of 6.5 to 7, maintained by the activities of the microorganisms in the ruminal digestive tract that help digest the fibrous tissues the animal consumes. A quick introduction of grains throws this balance off, increasing acidity to a pH of 5 to 6, which invites bacteria to produce lactic acid which further decreases pH. Acidosis, which this condition is called, causes decrease in consumption and pains in the belly. If this condition isn't treated the acid could cause ulcers in the rumen which invites infection since the bacteria is allowed access to the damaged ruminal membrane. Furthermore, the rumen eventually stops contracting, and the animal eventually dies. To prevent acidosis, medicines and antibiotics must be put into the feed to help prevent incidences of acidosis. Also, animals fresh off the pasture must be introduced to their new diet slowly to allow the microbial activity to adjust to the new diet.

Answer 2

No. Cows are herbivores, which means they eat plants. (beef is the meat that comes from cows.) In nature, cows eat grasses and other plants. On ranches, farms and feedlots, cows eat grass when in pastures, plus hay, silage, other feed products and corn when corralled or on feed lots.

Answer 3

Corn is great as an energy supplement if their current ration isn't meeting their energy requirements. Corn is mostly energy and little protein, so it serves as such to help cows (and bulls) gain weight if they are underweight, increase reproductive efficiency, increase production (as in meat and milk), and meet maintenance requirements. Commercial dairy cows often need grain, such as corn, to meet their high energy requirements because they are unable to get enough from forages and grass alone, regardless of they are lactating or not. Old cows which have worn their teeth down to the gums often require gain for similar reasons, but more because they can't fully break down the forages they would eat with their mouths to allow the microflora in their rumen better access to the nutrients within. All such animals still have full (ad libitum) access to forage and pasture, while the supplement fed is limited.

However, corn fed in a high-grain low-roughage diet, like that fed to finisher cattle in a feedlot is not seen as good at all. While it is an excellent source of energy to encourage cattle to gain weight quickly and increase feed efficiency, cattle are not well adapted or built to consume corn at such a high level unlike hogs and domestic fowl; rather they are better adapted to consume a high-roughage diet on a highly regular basis. Cattle and cows fed on a high-grain diet often get foamy bloat, abscessed livers, increased pH in the rumen which leads to an onset of acidosis (most often occuring when they literally binge on a high-grain diet, or when such a diet is introduced too quickly after they were on a high-forage ration), depressed immune system, founder, and other disorders. Often subacute antibiotics and ionophores (a form of antibiotic which is a feed additive) are needed to reduce, if not prevent, such maladies as acidosis and foamy bloat from occuring, and to reduce mortalities from such digestive disorders.

Answer 4

Yes. Cull potatoes, or those that are considered waste based on size, grade, quality standard, or discarded due to low market value from over-production, are often fed as a by-product to dairy cows mixed in a Total Mixed Ration (TMR). They cannot be fed as a feed source alone due to the very high starch content which can be detrimental to an animal's health due to potential for the onset of acidosis. Potatoes can also be fed to feedlot beef cattle in a mixed ration of grain, forage, vitamins and minerals.

Please see the related link below for furthe details on feeding cull potatoes to cattle.

Answer 5

If you mean cows eating corn, then yes, but only if the cows are on a 100% corn ration. However, if you mean if we eat corn, then no because we're eating the corn and the cows get to eat grass.

Answer 6

Corn is traditionally used to "finish" cows slated for market. It gives them a nice layer of fat. Of course, corn can be given to cows for other reasons. It is part of the daily supplement given to hard working dairy cows, and it is given to calves in the heat of summer to keep them eating.

Answer 7

No, cows tend to eat grass, hay or special cow food

Answer 8

Yes. So long as the cow is fed a certain feed that has adequate nutrients for her to produce milk, then she will keep producing milk.

Answer 9

They are typically known to eat grass.