Relative Feeding Value of Wet Corn Steep Liquor When Fed to Finishing Cattle

Corn steep liquor is a liquid by-product containing condensed steep water and condensed distillers solubles from a wet corn milling plant. Finishing steers weighing nine hundred and seventy-five pounds were fed cornbased finishing diets containing 0%, 6%, or 12% corn steep liquor for 84 days. Feeding corn steep liquor did not affect performance of the steers or carcass characteristics. Based on value of feeds replaced in the diet, steep liquor had a value of $55 to $60/ton (50% dry matter) when used to replace corn and supplemental protein in a corn-based finishing diet.

Diet Roughage Ingredients for Newly Weaned Calves

Several commodity feeds that are high in fiber are available that may substitute for corn cobs in a complete starting ration. This study was designed to evaluate the use of soyhulls and sunflower meal as substitutes for corncobs as a roughage source for newly weaned calves. One-hundred-and-fifty calves from the ISU Rhodes Research Farm were weaned, weighed, sorted by sex, and stratified by weight to eight pens. Two pens of each sex were assigned to one of two diet treatments. Calves fed the corncob diet consumed two pounds more feed dry matter, gained 1.5 pounds more per day, and were more efficient the first 14 days on feed. The soyhull diet was quite fine in particle size, and some feed particle separation occurred in the bunk. Some compensatory performance may have occurred with the soyhull diet the second 14 days on feed, although no statistical differences existed. This suggests that palatability, feed presentation, and bunk characteristics are important considerations in selecting roughage sources for complete starting diets for newly weaned calves.

Effects of Seed Treatments and a Soil-applied Nematicide on Corn Yields and Nematode Population Densities

Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms that feed on plants. Almost every nematode that feeds on corn is capable of feeding on many other plants. These nematode parasites are thought to be native to most Iowa soils and to have fed upon native plants before corn was grown as a cultivated crop. Population densities (numbers) of most species of plant-parasitic nematodes that feed on corn have to increase to damaging levels (called damage thresholds) before yield loss occurs.

Effects of Seed Treatments and a Soil-applied Nematicide on Corn Yields and Nematode Population Densities

Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms that feed on plants. Almost every nematode that feeds on corn is capable of feeding on many other plants. These nematode parasites are thought to be native to most Iowa soils and to have fed upon native plants before corn was grown as a cultivated crop. Population densities (numbers) of most species of plant-parasitic nematodes that feed on corn have to increase to damaging levels (called damage thresholds) before yield loss occurs.

Effects of Seed Treatments and a Soil-applied Nematicide on Corn Yields and Nematode Population Densities

Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms that feed on plants. Almost every nematode that feeds on corn is capable of feeding on many other plants. These nematode parasites are thought to be native to most Iowa soils and to have fed upon native plants before corn was grown as a cultivated crop. Population densities (numbers) of most species of plant-parasitic nematodes that feed on corn have to increase to damaging levels (called damage thresholds) before yield loss occurs. Products that are currently available to manage plant-parasitic nematodes on corn in the state include the soil-applied insecticide/nematicide Counter® and two relatively new protectant seed treatments, Avicta® and Votivo®. Counter® is a contact and systematic nematicide with the active ingredient terbufos. Avicta® is a contact nematicide (active ingredient abamectin) that moves on the surface of the root, and Votivo® is a special strain of the natural soil bacterium Bacillus firmus that grows on the root. Counter® is available from AMVAC, Avicta® from Syngenta Seedcare, and Votivo® from Bayer CropScience. The objective of this experiment was to assess and compare the nematode population densities and yields of corn growing in plots with and without the seed-treatment nematode protectants and the soil-applied nematicide Counter®.

Effects of Seed Treatments and a Soil-applied Nematicide on Corn Yields and Nematode Population Densities

Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms that feed on plants. Almost every nematode that feeds on corn is capable of feeding on many other plants. These nematode parasites are thought to be native to most Iowa soils and to have fed on native plants before corn was grown as a cultivated crop. Population densities (numbers) of most species of plant-parasitic nematodes that feed on corn have to increase to damaging levels (called damage thresholds) before yield loss occurs.