I asked a question the other day about small corn shellers and grinders. As I sat soaking up all the good info (Thanks, by the way!), a thought occured in my little urban brain. If we're going to shuck all of this corn, couldn't the husks and stalks be used as feed as well? I've heard that cattle farmers turn their herd into a corn field after it's been harvested to take advantage of the stalks and chaff, but could I store the husks (since we're shucking by hand) and use them as a suppliment over the winter? What kind of nutrition would this provide (if it's even possible)? Anything else special to know before trying this?

-- Campfool (campfool@yahoo.com), November 20, 2001

Answers

I suspect husks would have about as much nutrient content as dried fallen leaves, which my dexters like to gobble up. Must be something in them. Maybe they taste like potato chips...

-- bruce (rural@inebraska.com), November 20, 2001.

I fed corn husks and stalks to my milk cow(s) every fall. Corn silage is consists of the whole plant. Cows love it. If you leave corn standing, critters will feed from it and love it.

-- Paul Peterson (ppeterso@ix.netcom.com), November 21, 2001.

We grind the corn.cob and husks for our cattle... we mix some minerals in as well. They get fat and very sassy...

-- Lynnda (venus@zeelink.net), November 21, 2001.

The leaves that were fed have different minerals and vitimins, I used to gather up bags full for the goats for winter snacks. Watch don't put in walnut or cherry. We feed corn fodder after we take the corn. after it is dried it doesn't have a lot of nutrition but will be something to munch on. If it is in shocks, put in the dry, it will mold.[turn black, if left outside] silage is green corn fodder chopped up. you can do this yourself without the silo. if interested let me know. lexi

-- Lexi Green (whitestone11@hotmail.com), November 21, 2001.

I work at a vegetable farm and feed all the corn husks I can collect to my goats as a supplement all fall. They love it.

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), November 21, 2001.