PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. – Monsanto Canada is looking more closely at the demand emerging on the Prairies for corn grown for livestock grazing.
The company is among those that have noted the rising demand, especially in parts of Manitoba and Alberta.
It has one variety that specifically suits that need and will soon have more varieties, said seed marketing manager Jamie Rickard during a tour of the company’s research plots in central Manitoba last week.
He estimates that there are already 30,000 acres of corn grown in Western Canada for cattle grazing that is typically done in late fall and in the earlier part of winter in a bid to extend the grazing season.
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
DKC27-12 is the variety now available from Monsanto for grazing. It is appealing, he said, because it grows aggressively and typically provides earlier flowering and maturity. As a Roundup Ready hybrid, it also has an easy means of weed control.
Sales of DKC27-12 to plant as a grazing corn in Western Canada have doubled every year in each of the past three years, Rickard said. That shows producer satisfaction, he added.
As the company develops new corn varieties for grain or silage production, it is watching to see which of those might also be suited for grazing. According to Rickard, all the varieties released for grazing will be Roundup Ready hybrids.
Monsanto has at least one additional line under development that could be suited for grazing, he said. It matures earlier than DKC27-12 but does not grow quite as aggressively.
But because it is earlier maturing, it develops more cobs, which accounts for much of the nutrition provided by grazed corn.
Rickard anticipates northern Alberta and Manitoba will both show more interest in grazing corn, due to the amount of cattle production there.
Monsanto promotes grazing corn as a way for cattle producers to improve their feed efficiency with a crop that delivers better feeding value.
Compared to barley, oats or hay, corn has the potential to produce more feed at a lower cost per animal per day. Corn has a strong appetite for nitrogen, which means more manure can be applied per acre with the expectation of good uptake by the plants.
Grazing corn also can reduce labour and machinery costs, compared to turning the crop into silage.
When deciding whether to plant corn for grazing, producers need to consider seeding costs, fertilizer and weed control and whether those costs will be offset by the expected benefits.
