Irrigated corn residue was sampled across time in order to determine changes in quality and proportion of corn residue as the plant dried and was exposed to effects of weathering. Corn plants from two hybrids were planted on two different planting dates and harvested at periodic intervals from August 2012 to December 2012. Proportions of stem, blade/sheath, husk/shank, and cob made up smaller components of total plant DM as it matured, with the largest relative reduction occurring in the blade/sheath or stem. Hybrid impacted TDN values primarily because the 119 day hybrid was less mature at the early sampling dates

Erickson, Galen E.

Glewen, Keith

Jones, Mandi

Klopfenstein, Terry J., Klopfenstein

MacDonald, James C.

Watson, Andrea K.

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - LincolnDigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - LincolnNebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department2015Evaluation of Changes in Nutritional Quality ofCorn Residue Over TimeMandi JonesUniversity of Nebraska-LincolnJames C. MacDonaldUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln, jmacdonald2@unl.eduTerry J. Klopfenstein KlopfensteinUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln, tklopfenstein1@unl.eduGalen E. EricksonUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln, gerickson4@unl.eduKeith GlewenUniversity of Nebraska-LincolnSee next page for additional authorsFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcrPart of the Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons, Meat Science Commons, andthe Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.Jones, Mandi; MacDonald, James C.; Klopfenstein, Terry J. Klopfenstein; Erickson, Galen E.; Glewen, Keith; and Watson, Andrea K.,"Evaluation of Changes in Nutritional Quality of Corn Residue Over Time" (2015). Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 830.http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/830AuthorsMandi Jones, James C. MacDonald, Terry J. Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Keith Glewen, andAndrea K. WatsonThis article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/830© The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved. 2015 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report  — Page 59 (Continued on next page)Evaluation of Changes in Nutritional Quality  of Corn Residue Over TimeMandi JonesJim C. MacDonaldTerry J. KlopfensteinGalen E. EricksonKeith GlewenAndrea K. Watson1SummaryIrrigated corn residue was sampled across time in order to determine changes in quality and proportion of corn residue as the plant dried and was exposed to effects of weathering. Corn plants from two hybrids were planted on two different planting dates and har-vested at periodic intervals from August 2012 to December 2012. Proportions of stem, blade/sheath, husk/shank, and cob made up smaller components of total plant DM as it matured, with the larg-est relative reduction occurring in the blade/sheath or stem. Hybrid impacted TDN values primarily because the 119 day hybrid was less mature at the early sampling dates.IntroductionResidues of corn (Zea mays) have successfully been utilized as an eco-nomical roughage and energy source for ruminants. After grain harvest, the majority of what remains in the field is the forage portion of the plant. Residue proportions are estimated to be 40% stem, 45% husk/blade, 11% cob, and 4% grain for an irrigated field. Quality of the residue is largely dependent on plant part. This is sup-ported by previous research showing husk being higher in quality com-pared with the blade, stem, and cob (2012 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 11-12). Grain, the highest quality part of the corn plant, is typically found in minimal amounts in a residue field. Unlike grain, the forage is subject to decreasing quality as the plant matures, with the change in quality largely dependent on the effects of weathering. The objective of this trial was to determine the nutritional qual-ity of corn residue over time.ProcedureTwo experiments were conducted in 2012 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Agriculture Research and Development Center near Mead, Neb. Standing corn plants were sampled from an irrigated demonstration corn plot and harvested at periodic inter-vals from August 2012 to December 2012. Experiment (Exp.) 1 was planted May 27 and Exp. 2 was planted April 27. Both experiments contained two hybrids, a 102 day (DKC52-59) and 119 day (DKC69-40) maturity of DeKalb brand corn. Corn plants in Exp. 1 were harvested at two week intervals August through October and then four week intervals through December while Exp. 2 was harvested at four week intervals from October through December. Corn was not harvested for grain; instead, the plant remained standing in the field for the duration of the collection period. Hybrids within each experiment were divided into quadrats and a sample from each quadrat was collected at sampling time for a total of four repli-cations. Replications consisted of five plants in a row that were representa-tive of the field. Plants were separated into stem, blade/sheath, husk/shank, cob, and grain. Data on black layer were not collected from the field. Instead, black layer was calculated with an equation using planting date, hybrid, and weather pattern data to estimate maturity relative to the time of sampling.Plant parts for each sampling date were analyzed for DM and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility. Samples collected prior to November 1 were freeze-dried, and those collect-ed afterwards were dried in a forced air oven at 60°C for 48 hours. Samples were ground through a 2 mm screen in a Wiley mill and placed in labelled, airtight bags. Dacron bags with a 50 µm pore size were used for in situ to determine NDF digestibility. Two steers were used for in situ work with a 28 hour incubation period. Dupli-cate 1.25 g samples were weighed into Dacron bags and 40 Dacron bags were placed in a mesh bag. Eight mesh bags were placed in each steer during each incubation period. After incubation, bags were rinsed and washed in NDF solution. Bags were dried in a forced air oven at 100°C for 12 hours and then weighed back for DM.True digestibility of stem, blade/sheath, husk/shank, and cob were calculated in order to determine how much is fermented by the microbial community during retention time in the rumen. Solubles were considered 100% digestible and were calculated by subtracting the percentage of NDF from 100%. Therefore, true digest-ibility is the sum of the solubles and digestible NDF.Results were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, N.C.). The experimental unit consisted of the five competitive plants within each repli-cation. Repeated measures was used to determine how plant parts changed over time in regards to NDF content, NDF digestibility and true digestibil-ity. Hybrid was included in the model as a treatment.ResultsExperiment 1No effect of hybrid was found so results were combined. There was a quadratic change in the proportion of Page 60 — 2015 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report  © The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved.residue DM over time for stem, blade/sheath, and husk/shank, with few changes in DM proportion occurring once grain was estimated to reach 15.5% moisture (P < 0.01; Table 1). A quadratic increase in NDF content occurred over time for blade/sheath, husk/shank and cob (P < 0.01; Table 2). An increase in the amount of NDF is correlated with a decrease in solubles of the plant part. The amount of NDF has been shown to increase with plant maturity. Stem had a linear decrease in NDF content (P = 0.01). This implies that the stem increased in solubles over time. This is unlikely and is not supported by previous research since solubles are metabo-lized by the plant as it matures. It is unclear what displaced NDF in the stem as it remained in the field.A quadratic decrease in NDF digestibility occurred over time for cob, with the majority of the decline occurring prior to normal grain harvest (P < 0.01; Table 3). Digest-ibility of NDF of the other plant parts remained relatively constant for each sampling point, with the blade/sheath at 30% and stem less than 10%. The true digestibility of cob showed a quadratic decrease over time, with true digestibility remaining relatively constant once grain reaches 15.5% moisture (P < 0.01; Table 4). A linear decrease in true digestibility occurred for blade/sheath (P < 0.01), while there was a linear increase for the stem. As the plant matures, true digest-ibility is expected to decrease due to the increase in fiber and reduction in solubles. For this experiment, the increase in true digestibility of the stem is due to the decline of NDF con-tent which suggests cell solubles are increasing in the stem. As previously stated, it is unclear what displaced NDF in the stem and it seems unlikely that the true digestibility of the stem increased over time based on previous research.Table 1.  Changes in residue proportion over time for Experiment 1.Days from Black LayerS.E.P-value-18 -4 10 38 52 66 81 L QBlade and sheathCobHusk/shankStem3914  840191710543415  843101723512418  9492216  854251912451.271.271.271.27<0.010.8<0.01<0.01<0.011<0.01<0.01Table 2. Total neutral detergent fiber content of plant parts over time for Experiment 1.Days from Black LayerS.E.P-value-18 -4 10 38 52 66 81 L QBlade and sheathCobHusk/shankStem61.169.27470.663.378.679.168.765.383.178.165.671.380.783.172.173.384.380.364.773.577.681.459.473.180.377.364.31.431.431.431.43<0.01<0.010.040.01<0.01<0.01<0.010.5Table 3. Total neutral detergent fiber digestibility of plant parts over time for Experiment 1.Days from Black LayerS.E.P-value-18 -4 10 38 52 66 81 L QBlade and sheathCobHusk/shankStem29.530.7366.530.826.540.2431.825.238.94.333.123.240.66.734.224.144.11131.322.341.28.131.922.642.64.11.381.381.381.380.40.010.060.40.7< 0.010.50.4Table 4.  True digestibility of plant parts over time for Experiment 1.Days from Black LayerS.E.P-value-18 -4 10 38 52 66 81 L QBlade and sheathCobHusk/shankStem58.151.953.433.856.342.352.734.155.537.852.337.252.338.150.832.851.835.955.142.649.539.852.145.350.437.755.738.31.201.201.201.20<0.010.0010.40.010.03<0.010.30.3Experiment 2A quadratic decrease in proportion of residue DM was evident for stem, while a quadratic increase occurred for husk/shank and cob (P < 0.01; Table 5). After grain harvest, the DM proportions of the residue are believed to remain relatively constant unless acted upon by environmental effects. The low number of sampling time points taken after grain harvest may play a contributing role in the dif-ference over time for the stem, husk/shank, and cob in terms of residue proportion.A difference between hybrids was found for NDF content so results were separated. There was a linear increase in NDF content of stem for the 102 day hybrid over time (P < 0.01; Table 6). This is supported by previous research showing that NDF increases with increasing maturity, causing a corresponding decline in the amount of solubles. For the 119 day hybrid, NDF content of stem and husk/shank showed a linear decrease (P < 0.01; © The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved. 2015 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report  — Page 61 Table 7). The NDF of stem of the 119 day hybrid is similar to results for the NDF content of stem in Exp. 1. No differences were found in NDF digestibility, with values remaining relatively constant (Table 8). The NDF digestibility of stem was close to zero for each sampling date. No differences were found in true digestibility, with values remaining relatively constant over time (Table 9).ImplicationsExperiment 2 was planted one month earlier than Exp. 1 and was not sampled until after grain reached 15.5% moisture. While Exp. 1 evalu-ated the quality of the plant parts prior to black layer through the winter grazing period, Exp. 2 offers a smaller window for observation after nor-mal grain harvest. The proportion of residue DM for both experiments remained relatively constant once grain reached 15.5% moisture. There-fore, any reduction in DM after nor-mal grain harvest can be attributed to environmental effects. Plant part is the major contributor to the quality of residue, with the husk being of the highest quality while stem is of the lowest. Cattle select and consume the highest quality compo-nents first based on what is available in the field.1Mandi Jones, graduate student; Jim C. MacDonald, associate professor; Terry J. Klopfenstein, professor; Galen E. Erickson, professor; Keith Glewen, extension educator; Andrea Watson, research technician, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Animal Science, Lincoln, Neb.Table 5.  Change in residue proportion over time for Experiment 2.Days from Black LayerS.E.P-value51 93 108 L QBlade/sheathCobHusk/shankStem23.916.19.550.622.420.71343.920.520.513.345.71.261.261.261.260.9<0.01<0.01<0.010.9<0.01<0.01<0.01Table 6. Total neutral detergent fiber content of plant parts over time for 102 day hybrid in Experiment 2.Days from Black LayerS.E.P-value51 93 108 LBlade/sheathCobHusk/shankStem69.283.975.257.266.777.370.456.469.179.672.860.11.511.511.511.510.60.2<0.010.9Table 7. Total neutral detergent fiber content of plant parts over time for 119 day hybrid in Experiment 2.Days from Black LayerS.E.P-value51 93 108 LBlade/sheathCobHusk/shankStem71.485.480.35968.684.474.449.571.979.776.249.81.511.511.511.510.30.1<0.01<0.01Table 8.  Total neutral detergent fiber digestibility of plant parts over time for Experiment 2.Days from Black LayerS.E.P-value51 93 108 LBlade/sheathCobHusk/shankStem18.520.530.3021.415.934.91.625.119.832.40.52.412.412.412.410.60.040.61.0Table 9.  True digestibility of plant parts over time for Experiment 2.Days from Black LayerS.E.P-value51 93 108 LBlade/sheathCobHusk/shankStem4332.74641.946.831.952.947.947.336.249.845.32.042.042.042.040.40.50.040.1

Evaluation of Changes in Nutritional Quality
of Corn Residue Over Time

UNL | Libraries

University of Nebraska - Lincoln
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department
2015
Evaluation of Changes in Nutritional Quality of
Corn Residue Over Time
Mandi Jones
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
James C. MacDonald
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, jmacdonald2@unl.edu
Terry J. Klopfenstein Klopfenstein
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, tklopfenstein1@unl.edu
Galen E. Erickson
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, gerickson4@unl.edu
Keith Glewen
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
See next page for additional authors
Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr
Part of the Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons, Meat Science Commons, and
the Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health Commons
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has
been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Jones, Mandi; MacDonald, James C.; Klopfenstein, Terry J. Klopfenstein; Erickson, Galen E.; Glewen, Keith; and Watson, Andrea K.,
"Evaluation of Changes in Nutritional Quality of Corn Residue Over Time" (2015). Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 830.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/830
Authors
Mandi Jones, James C. MacDonald, Terry J. Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Keith Glewen, and
Andrea K. Watson
This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/830
© The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved. 2015 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report  — Page 59 
(Continued on next page)
Evaluation of Changes in Nutritional Quality  
of Corn Residue Over Time
Mandi Jones
Jim C. MacDonald
Terry J. Klopfenstein
Galen E. Erickson
Keith Glewen
Andrea K. Watson1
Summary
Irrigated corn residue was sampled 
across time in order to determine 
changes in quality and proportion of 
corn residue as the plant dried and was 
exposed to effects of weathering. Corn 
plants from two hybrids were planted 
on two different planting dates and har-
vested at periodic intervals from August 
2012 to December 2012. Proportions of 
stem, blade/sheath, husk/shank, and cob 
made up smaller components of total 
plant DM as it matured, with the larg-
est relative reduction occurring in the 
blade/sheath or stem. Hybrid impacted 
TDN values primarily because the 119 
day hybrid was less mature at the early 
sampling dates.
Introduction
Residues of corn (Zea mays) have 
successfully been utilized as an eco-
nomical roughage and energy source 
for ruminants. After grain harvest, 
the majority of what remains in the 
field is the forage portion of the plant. 
Residue proportions are estimated to 
be 40% stem, 45% husk/blade, 11% 
cob, and 4% grain for an irrigated 
field. Quality of the residue is largely 
dependent on plant part. This is sup-
ported by previous research showing 
husk being higher in quality com-
pared with the blade, stem, and cob 
(2012 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 
11-12). Grain, the highest quality part 
of the corn plant, is typically found in 
minimal amounts in a residue field. 
Unlike grain, the forage is subject 
to decreasing quality as the plant 
matures, with the change in quality 
largely dependent on the effects of 
weathering. The objective of this trial 
was to determine the nutritional qual-
ity of corn residue over time.
Procedure
Two experiments were conducted 
in 2012 at the University of Nebraska–
Lincoln Agriculture Research and 
Development Center near Mead, Neb. 
Standing corn plants were sampled 
from an irrigated demonstration corn 
plot and harvested at periodic inter-
vals from August 2012 to December 
2012. Experiment (Exp.) 1 was planted 
May 27 and Exp. 2 was planted April 
27. Both experiments contained two 
hybrids, a 102 day (DKC52-59) and 
119 day (DKC69-40) maturity of 
DeKalb brand corn. Corn plants in 
Exp. 1 were harvested at two week 
intervals August through October 
and then four week intervals through 
December while Exp. 2 was harvested 
at four week intervals from October 
through December. Corn was not 
harvested for grain; instead, the plant 
remained standing in the field for 
the duration of the collection period. 
Hybrids within each experiment were 
divided into quadrats and a sample 
from each quadrat was collected at 
sampling time for a total of four repli-
cations. Replications consisted of five 
plants in a row that were representa-
tive of the field. Plants were separated 
into stem, blade/sheath, husk/shank, 
cob, and grain. Data on black layer 
were not collected from the field. 
Instead, black layer was calculated 
with an equation using planting date, 
hybrid, and weather pattern data to 
estimate maturity relative to the time 
of sampling.
Plant parts for each sampling date 
were analyzed for DM and neutral 
detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility. 
Samples collected prior to November 
1 were freeze-dried, and those collect-
ed afterwards were dried in a forced 
air oven at 60°C for 48 hours. Samples 
were ground through a 2 mm screen 
in a Wiley mill and placed in labelled, 
airtight bags. Dacron bags with a 50 
µm pore size were used for in situ to 
determine NDF digestibility. Two 
steers were used for in situ work with 
a 28 hour incubation period. Dupli-
cate 1.25 g samples were weighed into 
Dacron bags and 40 Dacron bags were 
placed in a mesh bag. Eight mesh bags 
were placed in each steer during each 
incubation period. After incubation, 
bags were rinsed and washed in NDF 
solution. Bags were dried in a forced 
air oven at 100°C for 12 hours and 
then weighed back for DM.
True digestibility of stem, blade/
sheath, husk/shank, and cob were 
calculated in order to determine how 
much is fermented by the microbial 
community during retention time in 
the rumen. Solubles were considered 
100% digestible and were calculated 
by subtracting the percentage of NDF 
from 100%. Therefore, true digest-
ibility is the sum of the solubles and 
digestible NDF.
Results were analyzed using the 
MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS 
Institute, Inc., Cary, N.C.). The 
experimental unit consisted of the five 
competitive plants within each repli-
cation. Repeated measures was used 
to determine how plant parts changed 
over time in regards to NDF content, 
NDF digestibility and true digestibil-
ity. Hybrid was included in the model 
as a treatment.
Results
Experiment 1
No effect of hybrid was found so 
results were combined. There was a 
quadratic change in the proportion of 
Page 60 — 2015 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report  © The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved.
residue DM over time for stem, blade/
sheath, and husk/shank, with few 
changes in DM proportion occurring 
once grain was estimated to reach 
15.5% moisture (P < 0.01; Table 1). 
A quadratic increase in NDF content 
occurred over time for blade/sheath, 
husk/shank and cob (P < 0.01; Table 
2). An increase in the amount of 
NDF is correlated with a decrease in 
solubles of the plant part. The amount 
of NDF has been shown to increase 
with plant maturity. Stem had a linear 
decrease in NDF content (P = 0.01). 
This implies that the stem increased 
in solubles over time. This is unlikely 
and is not supported by previous 
research since solubles are metabo-
lized by the plant as it matures. It is 
unclear what displaced NDF in the 
stem as it remained in the field.
A quadratic decrease in NDF 
digestibility occurred over time for 
cob, with the majority of the decline 
occurring prior to normal grain 
harvest (P < 0.01; Table 3). Digest-
ibility of NDF of the other plant parts 
remained relatively constant for each 
sampling point, with the blade/sheath 
at 30% and stem less than 10%. The 
true digestibility of cob showed a 
quadratic decrease over time, with 
true digestibility remaining relatively 
constant once grain reaches 15.5% 
moisture (P < 0.01; Table 4). A linear 
decrease in true digestibility occurred 
for blade/sheath (P < 0.01), while there 
was a linear increase for the stem. 
As the plant matures, true digest-
ibility is expected to decrease due to 
the increase in fiber and reduction 
in solubles. For this experiment, the 
increase in true digestibility of the 
stem is due to the decline of NDF con-
tent which suggests cell solubles are 
increasing in the stem. As previously 
stated, it is unclear what displaced 
NDF in the stem and it seems unlikely 
that the true digestibility of the stem 
increased over time based on previous 
research.
Table 1.  Changes in residue proportion over time for Experiment 1.
Days from Black Layer
S.E.
P-value
-18 -4 10 38 52 66 81 L Q
Blade and sheath
Cob
Husk/shank
Stem
39
14
  8
40
19
17
10
54
34
15
  8
43
10
17
23
51
24
18
  9
49
22
16
  8
54
25
19
12
45
1.27
1.27
1.27
1.27
<0.01
0.8
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
1
<0.01
<0.01
Table 2. Total neutral detergent fiber content of plant parts over time for Experiment 1.
Days from Black Layer
S.E.
P-value
-18 -4 10 38 52 66 81 L Q
Blade and sheath
Cob
Husk/shank
Stem
61.1
69.2
74
70.6
63.3
78.6
79.1
68.7
65.3
83.1
78.1
65.6
71.3
80.7
83.1
72.1
73.3
84.3
80.3
64.7
73.5
77.6
81.4
59.4
73.1
80.3
77.3
64.3
1.43
1.43
1.43
1.43
<0.01
<0.01
0.04
0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
0.5
Table 3. Total neutral detergent fiber digestibility of plant parts over time for Experiment 1.
Days from Black Layer
S.E.
P-value
-18 -4 10 38 52 66 81 L Q
Blade and sheath
Cob
Husk/shank
Stem
29.5
30.7
36
6.5
30.8
26.5
40.2
4
31.8
25.2
38.9
4.3
33.1
23.2
40.6
6.7
34.2
24.1
44.1
11
31.3
22.3
41.2
8.1
31.9
22.6
42.6
4.1
1.38
1.38
1.38
1.38
0.4
0.01
0.06
0.4
0.7
< 0.01
0.5
0.4
Table 4.  True digestibility of plant parts over time for Experiment 1.
Days from Black Layer
S.E.
P-value
-18 -4 10 38 52 66 81 L Q
Blade and sheath
Cob
Husk/shank
Stem
58.1
51.9
53.4
33.8
56.3
42.3
52.7
34.1
55.5
37.8
52.3
37.2
52.3
38.1
50.8
32.8
51.8
35.9
55.1
42.6
49.5
39.8
52.1
45.3
50.4
37.7
55.7
38.3
1.20
1.20
1.20
1.20
<0.01
0.001
0.4
0.01
0.03
<0.01
0.3
0.3
Experiment 2
A quadratic decrease in proportion 
of residue DM was evident for stem, 
while a quadratic increase occurred 
for husk/shank and cob (P < 0.01; 
Table 5). After grain harvest, the DM 
proportions of the residue are believed 
to remain relatively constant unless 
acted upon by environmental effects. 
The low number of sampling time 
points taken after grain harvest may 
play a contributing role in the dif-
ference over time for the stem, husk/
shank, and cob in terms of residue 
proportion.
A difference between hybrids was 
found for NDF content so results were 
separated. There was a linear increase 
in NDF content of stem for the 102 
day hybrid over time (P < 0.01; Table 
6). This is supported by previous 
research showing that NDF increases 
with increasing maturity, causing a 
corresponding decline in the amount 
of solubles. For the 119 day hybrid, 
NDF content of stem and husk/shank 
showed a linear decrease (P < 0.01; 
© The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved. 2015 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report  — Page 61 
Table 7). The NDF of stem of the 119 
day hybrid is similar to results for 
the NDF content of stem in Exp. 1. 
No differences were found in NDF 
digestibility, with values remaining 
relatively constant (Table 8). The NDF 
digestibility of stem was close to zero 
for each sampling date. No differences 
were found in true digestibility, with 
values remaining relatively constant 
over time (Table 9).
Implications
Experiment 2 was planted one 
month earlier than Exp. 1 and was 
not sampled until after grain reached 
15.5% moisture. While Exp. 1 evalu-
ated the quality of the plant parts 
prior to black layer through the winter 
grazing period, Exp. 2 offers a smaller 
window for observation after nor-
mal grain harvest. The proportion 
of residue DM for both experiments 
remained relatively constant once 
grain reached 15.5% moisture. There-
fore, any reduction in DM after nor-
mal grain harvest can be attributed to 
environmental effects. 
Plant part is the major contributor 
to the quality of residue, with the husk 
being of the highest quality while 
stem is of the lowest. Cattle select and 
consume the highest quality compo-
nents first based on what is available 
in the field.
1Mandi Jones, graduate student; Jim 
C. MacDonald, associate professor; Terry J. 
Klopfenstein, professor; Galen E. Erickson, 
professor; Keith Glewen, extension educator; 
Andrea Watson, research technician, University 
of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Animal 
Science, Lincoln, Neb.
Table 5.  Change in residue proportion over time for Experiment 2.
Days from Black Layer
S.E.
P-value
51 93 108 L Q
Blade/sheath
Cob
Husk/shank
Stem
23.9
16.1
9.5
50.6
22.4
20.7
13
43.9
20.5
20.5
13.3
45.7
1.26
1.26
1.26
1.26
0.9
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
0.9
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
Table 6. Total neutral detergent fiber content of plant parts over time for 102 day hybrid in 
Experiment 2.
Days from Black Layer
S.E.
P-value
51 93 108 L
Blade/sheath
Cob
Husk/shank
Stem
69.2
83.9
75.2
57.2
66.7
77.3
70.4
56.4
69.1
79.6
72.8
60.1
1.51
1.51
1.51
1.51
0.6
0.2
<0.01
0.9
Table 7. Total neutral detergent fiber content of plant parts over time for 119 day hybrid in 
Experiment 2.
Days from Black Layer
S.E.
P-value
51 93 108 L
Blade/sheath
Cob
Husk/shank
Stem
71.4
85.4
80.3
59
68.6
84.4
74.4
49.5
71.9
79.7
76.2
49.8
1.51
1.51
1.51
1.51
0.3
0.1
<0.01
<0.01
Table 8.  Total neutral detergent fiber digestibility of plant parts over time for Experiment 2.
Days from Black Layer
S.E.
P-value
51 93 108 L
Blade/sheath
Cob
Husk/shank
Stem
18.5
20.5
30.3
0
21.4
15.9
34.9
1.6
25.1
19.8
32.4
0.5
2.41
2.41
2.41
2.41
0.6
0.04
0.6
1.0
Table 9.  True digestibility of plant parts over time for Experiment 2.
Days from Black Layer
S.E.
P-value
51 93 108 L
Blade/sheath
Cob
Husk/shank
Stem
43
32.7
46
41.9
46.8
31.9
52.9
47.9
47.3
36.2
49.8
45.3
2.04
2.04
2.04
2.04
0.4
0.5
0.04
0.1


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Evaluation of Changes in Nutritional Quality of Corn Residue Over Time

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