Corn Residue Use by Livestock in the United States

Abstract

Core Ideas USDA‐ERS surveyed 2250 producers from 19 states on corn residue grazing and mechanical harvests in 2010. Approximately 4.06 million ha was grazed by 11.7 million head of livestock. Approximately 0.81 million ha of corn residue was mechanically harvested in 2010. Corn residue is a significant resource for integrated crop–livestock systems in the western Corn Belt. Corn (Zea mays L.) residue grazing or harvest provides a simple and economical practice to integrate crops and livestock, but limited information is available on how widespread corn residue utilization is practiced by US producers. In 2010, the USDA Economic Research Service surveyed producers from 19 states on corn grain and residue management practices. Total corn residue grazed or harvested was 4.87 million ha. Approximately 4.06 million ha was grazed by 11.7 million livestock (primarily cattle) in 2010. The majority of grazed corn residue occurred in Nebraska (1.91 million ha), Iowa (385,000 ha), South Dakota (361,000 ha), and Kansas (344,000 ha). Average grazing days ranged from 10 to 73 d (mean = 40 d). Corn residue harvests predominantly occurred in the central and northern Corn Belt, with an estimated 2.9 Tg of corn residue harvested across the 19 states. This survey highlights the importance of corn residue for US livestock, particularly in the western Corn Belt.