Corn is king when it comes to cattle diets, especially in the Corn Belt. However, that does not mean that corn is a cattle producer’s only option.
Warren Rusche, South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension feedlot management specialist, explains milo or grain sorghum can be a viable option under certain market conditions.
Rusche shares in a recent SDSU enewsletter three reasons how milo is a viable replacement for corn:
- Milo becomes cost-effective in cattle diets when its price is 90% or less than corn on a per bushel basis.
- For optimal results, milo needs to be processed (rolled or ground) before feeding.
- Blending milo with high-moisture corn can result in greater than expected efficiency because of differences starch digestion.
“Milo contains less energy than corn grain does, although the protein content between the two grains is similar (or greater) for milo,” Rusche explains.
Because of the differences in energy, nutritionists value milo at approximately 90% the value of corn.
“In other words, if corn is worth $4 per bushel, milo is a ‘buy’ anytime that grain is priced at $3.60 or less,” he says.
Process Before Feeding
Rusche says milo need to be processed before feeding.
“Milo has a hard seed coat that resists digestion in the rumen and small intestine,” he explains. “We need to process the grain to reduce particle size and create opportunities for rumen microbes to degrade starch.”
Steam-flaking results in the greatest improvements in digestibility; grinding or rolling are also effective for feedlots without access to a steam-flake mill. Rolling produces a more consistent feed than does grinding through a hammermill, but both approaches are acceptable.
Performance improves with more aggressive processing.
“Fine-ground milo resulted in a 3% improvement in ADG [average daily gain] and a 7% improvement in feed efficiency compared to coarse grinding,” he adds. “Keep in mind that more extensive processing leads to more rapid starch digestion in the rumen which increases the risk of acidosis and bloat. Careful bunk management and using ionophores can reduce the risk of adverse outcomes.”
Is Harvesting High-Moisture Milo an Option?
Rusche says harvesting high-moisture milo works well as a strategy to both reduce field losses and improve cattle performance.
“Harvesting milo at 22[%] to 30% moisture content allows for earlier harvest and reduces grain loss from head shatter,” he explains. “High-moisture milo has greater starch digestibility compared to dry grain, which would support greater cattle performance. High-moisture milo could be harvested using a combine or a forage harvester could be used to harvest the seed head plus a portion of the stalk, sometimes referred to as ‘headlage.’”
Headlage would be like earlage in that the feed contains both grain plus a crop residue. Harvesting as a high-moisture feed does not eliminate the need for processing, so the grain would need to be ground or rolled before the bunker or pile, or a kernel processor would need to be used if headlage was harvested.
Feeding in Combination with Corn
Feeding a mixture of milo with corn grain for growing or finishing cattle works well, especially when dry-rolled milo is combined with high-moisture corn.
“Starch from high-moisture corn is more extensively digested in the rumen compared to starch from milo,” Rusche says. “Feeding a blend of dry-rolled milo with high-moisture corn resulted in greater gains and improved feed efficiency compared to either 100% high-moisture corn or 100% dry-rolled milo in a series of studied conducted at the University of Nebraska.”
These researchers attributed the response to increased ruminal digestion of the dry-rolled milo and less risk of acidosis compared to when the two feed grains were fed alone.
Bottom Line
According to Rusche, feeding milo is financially feasible when priced at 90% or less than the value of corn, however, the grain must be correctly processed to capture the full value and optimize use.
“Feeding milo as a high-moisture feed or in combination with more rapidly fermentable grain sources can lead to improved performance,” he summaries.
Rusche encourages cattle feeders to consult with a nutritionist or Extension specialist if they have not fed milo grain in the past.
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