Evaluation of grain corn grown in New Brunswick for dairy cows

Corn harvested as grain is a relatively new crop for the province of New Brunswick. The recent availability of local corn has the potential to improve the sustainability of the dairy industry in New Brunswick, but there is debate within the industry concerning the value and best use of the grain. This experiment was conducted to assess the feeding value of locally-produced corn grain stored as dry grain, ensiled high moisture corn, or ensiled as high moisture corncob meal (HMCCM, unhusked ears sometimes referred to as snaplage) relative to dry grain obtained from Ontario. Three samples of each were evaluated In Sacco. Rates and extent of digestion were similar for local and Ontario corn regardless of presentation for crude protein and starch, but acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber and dry matter digestibility values were lower for HMCCM than other treatments. A 4 × 4 Latin square study was conducted with 16 Holstein cows and 28 day feeding periods. Milk production and milk protein production were higher (P < 0.05) with the locally produced dry corn than with other treatments. Energy corrected milk was lowest with the HMCCM diet. These results indicated that the value of corn produced in New Brunswick is similar to that produced in Ontario.