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Some Factors Affecting the Length of Time Whole Corn Kernels are Retained in the Rumens of Steers

Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station

Abstract

It is common knowledge among cattle feeders that an appreciable amount of whole corn kernels pass the gamut of the entire digestive tract of steers unbroken and are therefore of little or no nutritive value to the animal. This is particularly true during those parts of the feeding period when the steers are on relatively high levels of shelled corn intake.

In attempting to account for this condition, the question arose as to the length of time whole corn kernels remained in the rumen. Schalk and Amadon have reported that only 50% of the kernels were crushed during mastication. Observations at the Ohio Station showed that from 10% to 40% of the kernels eaten were uncrushed during mastication depending somewhat on the age of the animal. Calves crushed more than the older steers. Why should such a large percentage of whole kernels pass thru unbroken when the feeding level was high and a relatively low percentage when the animals were started on feed?