If your only option is to graze the field with cows, we would recommend that you do some cross-fencing to limit the intake of corn by each cow. This will take some time on your part, but it is the management method that has the least amount of risk. This will adapt the rumen to a grain diet. One of the keys for this management strategy is to move cows before all the grain is cleaned up in the fenced-off paddock. This will reduce the pattern of high grain diet, followed by high forage, followed by high grain. This roller-coaster pattern could result in cows that founder. If these are breeding stock cows, make sure they don't get overly fat. If you have weaned calves and cull cows, you may want to graze them ahead of the pregnant cows so as to limit the intake of corn of the pregnant cows. Before allowing cows or calves to graze the field, feed them some corn (5 to 6 lb/hd/day) to help the rumen to adapt. Grazing this is not without risk.

Browse related Faqs by tag: beef cattle, cornstalkfield