Animal Science, Department of
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Date of this Version
2026
Citation
2026 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pages 38-40, MP-121, University of Nebraska Extension, 2026
Abstract
Summary with Implications
Cattle feeders or their nutritionists who rely on high-moisture corn (HMC) use a standard adjustment to energy content of the diet based on observation or previous research reports. Because moisture content of HMC is the result of many field and harvest factors, a common adjustment to the energy value of HMC applied to all conditions may not be appropriate. The hypothesis that moisture content of HMC determines its energy concentration was tested. Through a meta-analysis, it was determined that feed intake was depressed while energy content of HMC increased at greater moisture content. A simple method to estimate the moisture contribution from HMC to the diet was derived to enhance the applicability of dietary energy prediction equations using the contribution of HMC moisture to the diet.
Comments
Copyright 2026, Board of Regents, University of Nebraska. Used by permission