Corn Germ as a Source of Supplemental Fat for Cows in late Gestation

To evaluate corn germ as a source of supplemental fat, 217 two to twelve-year-old cows receiving grass hay free choice were supplemented with either 2.75 lb of corn germ (dry basis) or an equal amount of crude protein from soybean meal (0.80 lb dry matter) starting approximately 50 days prior to the first expected calving. Cows were removed from treatment the day they calved and where managed as a group through the breeding season. Supplement treatment did not affect cow weight change or body condition score. Corn germ did not improve any measure of reproduction, including the percentage of cows cycling or conceiving in the first 21 days of the breeding season or the days from calving to the onset of cyclicity or conception. Calf performance, calf health or indicators of colostrum absorption (total serum protein or IgG) were not influenced by supplement treatment. The results were similar whether all age groups were included in the analysis or when only data for the two and three year old cows were included in the data set. Under the conditions of this study there was no advantage to feeding a source of supplemental fat from corn germ during late gestation