From phone calls I have received, there seems to be a renewed interest in some common feedstuffs. Below, I offer some general observations and definitions.

CORN STOVER: This is nothing more than corn stalks. Many producers bale the leftover corn stalks into big round bales. Others elect to graze the corn fields after harvest.

In early winter, before the leaves are tromped down and begin to decompose in the mud, corn stalks are very valuable roughage. If cattle, sheep or horses are allowed to graze stalks, they will eat the corn leaves before they will eat late cut fescue. Even though the protein percentage may be less than 5 percent, the energy value is more typical of timothy or brome hay. When a field of stover is grazed, the animal also picks up a certain amount of corn. How much corn is reflective of the harvest conditions.

When baled, the stalk, leaves and some of the cob will end up in the bale. Horses do an excellent job of picking over the best quality stover without creating much waste. Cattle, on the other hand, are more prone to wasting part of the bale. Still, if supplemented properly with natural protein supplement, cattle and horses do great on corn stover.

Corn stover needs to be supplemented with protein, calcium, salt and vitamin A. Growing cattle should be supplemented at 1 percent of their body weight with Trendsetter or fed Trendsetter self limiter. Mature cattle should be supplemented with 2 lbs. of breeder cubes per day, a protein tub block or liquid supplement.

SOYBEAN STOVER: Soybean stalks, hulls, leaves and lost beans can be used as pasture. Soybean stover, unlike corn stover, has little nutritional value unless considerable shatter at harvest left behind quantities of whole beans on the ground. Though soybean stover can be grazed (and maybe even baled), hay and or grain should also be fed. I would avoid depending on soybean stover and protein supplement for growing cattle.

CEREAL HAYS OR PASTURE: Wheat, rye, oats, barley and speltz (small grain crosses) are excellent forages for cattle and horses. Their nutritional value is unparalleled when grazed at vegetative state, baled or ensiled. They are still excellent forage if harvested before boot stage. But waiting to harvest until the crop hits its dough stage drastically reduces its nutritional performance. When grazing any of these cereal grains, it is a good idea to offer some dry hay. The succulence of high protein and energy in these cereal grains at their vegetative state causes a mild looseness. This is nothing to worry about--it is nutritional scours rather than a disease. Cattle should gain 2 lbs. per head per day if enough pasture material is available.

The bad side of grazing small grains is that cattle tromp down and track up the fields. On the other hand, if it is a dry year and little tromping occurs, grazing small grains in fall and early spring actually causes them to increase tiller, which boosts forage yields.