By Jason Vance
Contributor

With straw supplies limited and prices remaining high in many parts of the country, dairy producers may want to consider corn and milo stalks as alternative sources of winter bedding and roughage.

Mike Brooke, a dairy specialist with K-State Research and Extension, says the availability and cost of straw are creating challenges for dairy operations preparing for the winter months. The average straw price in Kansas is approximately $140 per ton, making it an expensive input for producers who rely on it for animal bedding or feed.

Brooke says crop residues, including corn stalks and milo stalks, may provide an opportunity to reduce the amount of purchased straw needed throughout the winter.

“One of the available options that we actually do have out there is corn stalks as well as milo stalks, and these can be effective as a bedding source, but they can also be utilized in diets as well,” Brooke says.

Before turning to crop residues, producers should evaluate how much straw they already have available and determine whether additional bedding or roughage will be needed to get through the winter. They should also consider whether corn or milo stalks are readily available in their area.

Quality is an important consideration when harvesting stalks for either purpose. Brooke recommends harvesting material that is dry, ideally at 18% moisture or less, while keeping dirt and mud contamination to a minimum.

Harvesting practices can also influence the quality and usefulness of the material. Brooke recommends using a rotary mower to clip the stalks and create a windrow suitable for baling. Whenever possible, producers should avoid raking windrows together because additional handling can increase field losses.

A wider mower that produces a larger windrow may help eliminate the need for raking and preserve more of the available material.

Brooke also encourages producers to consider using a baler equipped with net wrap rather than traditional string ties. Net-wrapped bales generally hold together better during handling, making them a practical choice for harvesting crop residues.

Some balers also have cutter mechanisms that partially chop the material as it enters the bale. While that feature can be beneficial, Brooke says producers can still harvest usable stalks with a rotary mower and a net-wrapped baler.

Storage practices should depend on how the material will be used. Producers planning to incorporate corn or milo stalks into livestock diets should keep the bales dry by storing them inside a shed or under a covered pile.

Bales intended strictly for bedding may be stored outside, provided producers take appropriate precautions to protect the material.

However, there is an important difference between crop residues and traditional straw when it comes to animal bedding. Corn and milo stalks generally do not absorb moisture as effectively as straw.

That difference means producers may want to consider combining the two materials rather than completely replacing straw.

Brooke suggests using corn or milo stalks as a base layer, followed by a layer of straw on top. This approach can reduce the total amount of purchased straw while still providing a more absorbent surface for animals.

For dairy operations managing tight input budgets, that combination could offer a practical way to stretch existing straw supplies without sacrificing as much bedding quality.

As producers across the country prepare for winter, evaluating locally available crop residues could help reduce bedding expenses and provide additional roughage options. Brooke emphasizes the importance of planning ahead and making sure adequate supplies are available to meet both bedding and feeding needs throughout the winter season.