Roundup Corn

plowhand · #1 12/31/07, 10:04 PM

Have any of y'all folks had trouble feeding roundup ready corn? I can't get my pigs to gain any weight feeding them roundup corn. I turned some sows out on some old style corn and they fattened up fine and brought me three nice litters. I can't even get the roundup corn to swell if i soak it for 5 weeks. They like it, but they won't make any gains. I put a self feeder in the lot and filled it with TSC 12% ALLSTOCK and 2 weeks later, WOW! I can't belive the gains on just 12% feed. I don't have enough of the old style corn due to the weather this year. I've had to buy some corn this year, and about all you can find is roundup ready corn. I do not have any intention of buying any more. Looks like I am a going to have to build another cribb and try to keep enough corn for 3 or 4 years instead of 2. I have had other people come up and ask me about this corn as they were having the same trouble. I can't get over this mess not swelling up when you soak it. The hull won't even come of the corn, cant rub it off. Has anybody else had this trouble.

**ladycat** · #2 12/31/07, 10:25 PM

Fascinating. I have no answer for you but I'm interested to see what experiences the other posters relate.

tomjones · #3 12/31/07, 11:27 PM

I dont want to sound crass, but I cannot imagine how you would know going to a feed store or a TSC or something. The RR gene is not segregated,at least not here and would be blended immediately upon arrival at the elevator here with any corn that is not RR. So when I go to the TSC or feed store to buy feed, I would bet you dollars to donuts that there is some of both in there, and that the ration avries from bag to bag and batch to batch. Unless you are going to source verify your feed good luck avoiding.

That being said, I know there is some conr=cern here with people not being able to get cattle to eat te stalks and husks in the fields as readilly in the form of aftremath grazing. Stalks also do not dry down as fast, so there are a pain to bale for bedding or feeding.

But I have never seen a thing that would make me think there is a difference in grain digestibility. But I would never say never.

**ladycat** · #4 12/31/07, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomjones

I dont want to sound crass, but I cannot imagine how you would know going to a feed store or a TSC or something. The RR gene is not segregated,at least not here and would be blended immediately upon arrival at the elevator here with any corn that is not RR. So when I go to the TSC or feed store to buy feed, I would bet you dollars to donuts that there is some of both in there, and that the ration avries from bag to bag and batch to batch. Unless you are going to source verify your feed good luck avoiding.

That being said, I know there is some conr=cern here with people not being able to get cattle to eat te stalks and husks in the fields as readilly in the form of aftremath grazing. Stalks also do not dry down as fast, so there are a pain to bale for bedding or feeding.

But I have never seen a thing that would make me think there is a difference in grain digestibility. But I would never say never.

Maybe he bought it from other farmers in the area?

tomjones · #5 12/31/07, 11:56 PM

AGreed, that is the only way we can know. Once it goes to the elevator or processor all bets are off. Thats why the source verified stuff is so much more expensive.

haypoint · #6 01/01/08, 08:02 AM

I doubt that the difference is RR or not. There are so m any different types of field corn. There is a waxy type that might not absorb water like other varieties. Perhaps if corn was over dried it would be slow to soak up water? Some corn, RR or not, has lower protein levels than others.
You won't see any rapid gaing in pigs with straight corn anyway. Need to get the protein up, generally with soy beans. I read in the paper the other day that a Washington state farmer supplemented his hog feed with hookers. In Michigan we stick mostly to soy beans.
Plowhand, this is an interesting post that the anti-RR crowd is likely to applaud, real or not.

RedHogs · #7 01/01/08, 04:04 PM

Quote:

You won't see any rapid gaing in pigs with straight corn anyway. Need to get the protein up, generally with soy beans. I read in the paper the other day that a Washington state farmer supplemented his hog feed with hookers. In Michigan we stick mostly to soy beans.
Plowhand, this is an interesting post that the anti-RR crowd is likely to applaud, real or not.

Amen to that, If your feeding straight corn, that's your problem....If your trying to imply RR corn is not as good....get real, it's all I grow and it works great, go to local coop and buy corn and you will get some rr corn.

The best corn to plant is the Hi-lysine GM strains, these are high in fat and bred specifically for hog feed...This corn is not RR ready, and is kinda pricey.

plowhand · #8 01/01/08, 05:03 PM

I suppose I should clarify a few things. I run hogs on pasture, sow crops to be grazed off like field peas,peanuts,oats,millet, and anything that they like to eat thats nutritous. I use corn as a supplement. I have never had any trouble before,but I am not trying to top a hog in 120 days either. I didn't have enough of the old open-pollenated corn that I like to plant. The weather did not cooperate this year. I had to purchase some corn to help stretch what I had. I decided to use it first. It just wont do the job. I don't know if the unusally dry weather caused it not to have as much protien, or if it's just the type of corn. You can't buy any other kind of seed; corn or soybeans, that isn't roundup ready. That is in an area, well 2 hours in any direction. The only ones planting anything else are die hards like myself that plant enough for their one use. I am buying TSC feed because of the price. What I can buy at the mill is made from the same mess. Its $400 a ton,TSC feed is around $270. I am a conservitive farmer, but not strictly organic. I don't want to stunt my hogs either. I can't afford to pay the price to get organic feed. No one in this vicinity will pay the extra costs. They like the hogs raised on the ground, but could care less about the organic aspect. Personally I like the thought of the pesticide,herbicide, and chemical fertilize free feedstuffs for man and beast. I still have to look at the bottom line. We are 30+ inches short of rainfall this year,and one has to do what one has to do. As to keeping grain at the local elevator, well I use them if and only if I buy extra grain. What I raise I keep at home. That way I know what I got. I got so sick of carrying fine corn and small grains to the elevator, and bring trash home later. I'd rather sack it myself that to pay somebody for cockleburs and husks.

haypoint · #9 01/04/08, 12:34 AM

Could the record drought have an effect on your regular cover crops?

plowhand · #10 01/04/08, 07:34 PM

I am not sure. One of my my neighbors told me the trouble I was having with my corn was due to the dry weather. I suppose it could have caused it to have less protein value. I suppose the only way to know for sure is to have it tested. It seems that my hogs and cattle seem to be most affected by the drought. My sheep,goats,horses and mules seem to have held up well. The sheep seem just to thrive under such conditions, and find plenty to eat. They never go to the hay feeders and everthing else does. They are amazing.