Corn is considered the most common grain fed in North America. Of the grains, it has the highest level of starch and lowest percent of ruminal starch digestion. The outer shell (hull) of corn is very durable and corn is typically processed to maximize digestion. In terms of protein, corn protein often bypasses digestion in the rumen because it's resistant to digestion by rumen microbes.
When compared to corn silage, corn that is fed as grain is harvested later in the year when the plant is dry. This gives corn a lower moisture content than corn silage.
Corn |
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Measure |
Mean |
Margin of Error (St. Dev x2) |
Range (+/- St. Dev) |
Moisture, % |
13.63 |
4.50 |
9.13 – 18.13 |
CP, % |
7.52 |
1.58 |
6.73 – 8.31 |
ADF, % |
3.29 |
1.22 |
2.68 – 3.90 |
NDF, % |
9.84 |
1.80 |
8.94 – 10.74 |
Calcium, % |
0.01 |
0.02 |
0 – 0.02 |
Phosphorus, % |
0.27 |
0.08 |
0.23 – 0.31 |
Magnesium, % |
0.09 |
0.04 |
0.07 – 0.11 |
Potassium, % |
0.36 |
0.10 |
0.31 – 0.41 |
Starch, % |
66.29 |
15.20 |
58.69 – 73.89 |
Energy |
Approximately 4.1 Mcal/kg Digestible Energy |
High Moisture Corn |
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Measure |
Mean |
Margin of Error (St. Dev x2) |
Range (+/- St. Dev) |
Moisture, % |
27.95 |
8.82 |
23.54 – 32.36 |
CP, % |
8.26 |
1.82 |
7.35 – 9.17 |
ADF, % |
2.68 |
1.42 |
1.97 – 3.39 |
NDF, % |
11.30 |
2.98 |
9.81 – 12.79 |
Calcium, % |
0.01 |
0.04 |
0 – 0.04 |
Phosphorus, % |
0.30 |
0.06 |
0.27 – 0.33 |
Magnesium, % |
0.11 |
0.02 |
0.10 – 0.12 |
Potassium, % |
0.40 |
0.06 |
0.37 – 0.43 |
Starch, % |
67.99 |
3.46 |
64.53 – 71.45 |
Energy |
Approximately 3.90 Mcal/kg Digestible Energy |
Corn and Cob Meal |
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Measure |
Mean |
Margin of Error (St. Dev x2) |
Range (+/- St. Dev) |
Moisture, % |
35.90 |
13.18 |
29.31 – 42.49 |
CP, % |
8.04 |
1.64 |
7.22 – 8.86 |
ADF, % |
9.97 |
5.27 |
7.11 – 12.83 |
NDF, % |
21.10 |
9.94 |
16.13 – 26.07 |
Calcium, % |
0.03 |
0.06 |
0 – 0.06 |
Phosphorus, % |
55.08 |
10.80 |
49.68 – 60.48 |
Magnesium, % |
0.10 |
0.04 |
0.08 – 0.12 |
Potassium, % |
0.45 |
0.10 |
0.40 – 0.50 |
Starch, % |
55.08 |
10.80 |
49.68 – 60.48 |
Energy |
Approximately 3.75 Mcal/kg Digestible Energy |