SUPER FLAKED CORN
Steam flaking disrupts the cellular structure of the grain kernels (gelatinization) and increases sites for microbial attachment resulting in improved starch (carbohydrate) digestion in the rumen. By making the carbohydrate more available, 1) more energy is released 2) more microbial protein can be produced. In addition, heat treatment in steam flaking can change the chemical structure of the protein in corn making it less likely to breakdown in the rumen. This may increase the amount of bypass protein available.
EFFECT OF CORN PROCESSING ON RUMINAL AVAILABILITY OF CORN
A summary at the 1992 Florida "Large Dairy Herd Management Conference" by Dr. Mertens of the U.S. Forage Lab listed the information below. You can see from this summary that steam flaking has a greater impact than grinding. Ruminal digestibility of flaked corn was 10% greater than fine and 32% better than coarse ground corn.
Corn Processing % Ruminal digestion
Whole 60
Dry, coarse grind 65
Dry, medium grind 74
Dry, fine grind 78
Hi moist ensiled, coarse 82
Hi moist ensiled, fine 85
Steam flaked, thin flake 86
Pennfield experiments at 2 universities showed similar improvements in availability using SUPER flaked corn.
A Penn State study also showed substantial differences in rumen availability as affected by corn processing:
Item Rumen available Rumen available
protein, % carbohydrate, %
Cracked corn 37.1 44.6
Fine ground corn 53.3 64.5
Steam flaked corn 29.4 75.4
P.S.U. JDS 78:1789 1995
There are a number of factors that are involved in the manufacturing of SUPER flaked corn to achieve these improvements. Temperature and flake thickness are just a few of the variables that are monitored in the quality control program at Pennfield.
EFFECTS OF CORN PROCESSING ON DAIRY COW PERFORMANCE
In the studies listed below, average milk production increased about 5 lbs./cow/day, protein yield increased about .2 lbs./cow/day and % usually increased, fat yield increased about .1 lb./cow/day and % decreased.
OBSERVATIONS FROM RESEARCH AND FIELD USE
Pay close attention to NFC levels in rations with SUPER flaked corn. A practical maximum NFC when using higher levels of super flaked corn is 38%. Higher levels should be used cautiously and buffers should be considered. Forage NDF levels should be above minimums, and forage length should provide a minimum of 20% of the particles in the total ration at least 1.5 inches long. Balance for proper levels of soluble and undegraded protein, fat and ADF.
Because of processing a flatter flake there is less weight per volume of feed. This means that less will fit on trucks and in bins. Volume will increase 5 to 15% depending on the inclusion level of corn. Keep this in mind when ordering feed. Also, grain scoops or volume based grain feeders need to be re-calibrated for SUPER flake containing feeds. Feed amounts required based on actual weight.
