Corn Energy Value - A Comparison
of Harvesting Corn as Shelled Dried Corn, High Moisture Corn, High Moisture
Cob Corn (cob meal) and Corn Silage
The higher corn prices we have been experiencing have had many beef producers
re-evaluating their feeding programs and considering their feed ingredient
options to potentially reduce feed costs. These corn prices, coupled with
projected higher drying charges or costs, prompted me to compare the cost
of energy from a home grown corn crop, looking at different harvesting
options. The calculations were based on the assumption of a 160 bushel
per acre crop of corn and an opportunity cost or replacement cost value
of $5.50 per bushel. Costs for harvest, trucking, drying and for putting
the corn into storage were included. I did not factor in the capital or
operating costs of storage, so the numbers do not capture all the costs
that could be included, but they hopefully are "food for thought"
as we look for ways to reduce feed costs.
Based on my calculations, the cost of energy from corn silage is approximately
33% less than that of dry shelled corn, and the energy from high moisture
cob corn is approximately 17.5% less than the energy cost of dry corn.
If someone approached you with a product that could potentially reduce
your feed costs by 33% or 17.5%, I think they would have your attention.
Some producers like dry corn because it gives them some marketing options,
and they are right! However as with many options, there can be a cost.
Both corn prices and energy costs are softening at the present time and
I won't speculate on where either is going in the future. However, during
times of high corn prices and energy costs there are some feed cost savings
to be had by including more corn silage in rations and using high moisture
grains such as high moisture corn or high moisture cob corn.
Production - per acre, assuming a 160 bu per acre corn
crop.
| |
Total Weight
|
Protein
|
Energy (TDN)
|
Scenario #1
|
|
|
|
| Shelled Corn (15.5%D.M.) |
8,960 lbs
|
(8%) 717 lbs
|
(80%) 7168 lbs
|
| Scenario #2 |
|
|
|
| High Moisture Corn (75%D.M.) |
10,095 lbs
|
(7.1%) 717 lbs
|
(71%) 7168 lbs
|
| Scenario #3 |
|
|
|
| High Moisture Cob (72%D.M.) |
12,618 lbs
|
(6.5%) 828 lbs
|
(65%) 8164 lbs
|
| Scenario #4 |
|
|
|
| Corn Silage (35%D.M.) |
45,820 lbs
|
(2.8%) 1283 lbs
|
(24.5%) 11,226 lbs
|
Costs - per acre - assuming an opportunity price value
or a replacement cost of $5.50/bu.
| Scenario #1 |
Cost |
| Shelled Corn 160 bu/acre @ $5.50 = |
$ 880.00 |
| Drying Costs @ $24 /t (25% moisture) = |
$ 97.50 |
| Combining @ $40 /acre = |
$ 40.00 |
| Trucking @ $8 /t = |
$ 4.06 |
| Total Cost |
$1021.56 |
| Scenario #2 |
Cost |
| H.M.C. (based on 160 bu/acre) = |
$ 880.00 |
| Combining @ $40 /acre = |
$ 40.00 |
| Placing in Storage @ $8 /t = |
$ 36.62 |
| Total Cost |
$ 956.62 |
| Scenario #3 |
Cost |
| High moisture cob corn (based on 160 bu./acre) = |
$ 880.00 |
Harvesting $215 /hour @ 2.5 ac/hr =
(includes picking, processing, hauling and blowing) |
$ 86.00 |
| Total Cost |
$ 966.00 |
Scenario #4
|
Cost |
| Corn Silage (based on an equivalent 160 bu/acre) = |
$ 880.00 |
| Harvesting $215 /hr @ 2.5 ac/hr = |
$ 86.00 |
| P&K removed in stover (~$5.25 /t) = |
$ 109.10 |
| Total Cost |
$ 1075.10 |
Cost of Energy - ¢/lb of TDN
| Scenario #1 - dried shelled corn |
Cost |
| Total costs ÷ energy yield = $1021.56 ÷
7168 lbs. = |
14.3 ¢/lb |
| Scenario #2 - high moisture corn |
Cost |
| Total costs ÷ energy yield = $956.62 ÷
7168 lbs. = |
13.3 ¢/lb |
| Scenario #3 - high moisture cob corn (cob
meal) |
Cost |
| Total costs ÷ energy yield = $966.00 ÷
8164 lbs. = |
11.8 ¢/lb |
| Scenario #4 - corn silage |
Cost |
| Total costs ÷ energy yield = $1075.10 ÷
11,226 lbs. = |
9.6 ¢/lb |
Assumptions
- No costs are included for storage.
- No allowance for potential differences in field loses based on harvest
moisture.
- The cob portion in high moisture cob corn adds approximately 20% more
in weight than a similar yield of high moisture corn.
- The energy and the protein are calculated on an "as fed"
basis.
- The value of the protein yields have not been calculated, but should
also be considered.
- Differences in feeding value or potential gain have not been calculated.
- A "thumb rule" yield of 1 tonne of 35% dry matter corn silage
per 7.7 bushels of shelled corn.
- The small case letter "t" is the abbreviation used for metric
tonne.
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