Specialty Grains for Ruminants

Corn, soybean, and sunflower hybrids with improved agronomic and nutritional traits are grown widely today. Barring increased concern about genetically modified foods, production of specialty grains is likely to increase because many new hybrids with novel traits desired by both grain producers and grain users are being developed. Traits that have been modified include "input traits" that alter either agronomic or production characteristics, and "output traits" that alter value of the product to specific users (millers, brewers, starch or oil extractors, livestock feeders). Grain growers readily adopt varieties with improved input traits (insect or herbicide resistance) if they are assured of having a market for their grain. In contrast, grain growers usually do not benefit directly from producing grain with improved output traits. To realize their full value, grains with improved nutritional traits cannot be marketed through "commodity" channels, but must be "identity preserved" both during production and marketing. To compensate growers for any added production cost (i.e., identity preservation of the crop; specific trait assays) associated with producinq grain or silage with improved nutritional traits, price premiums or production contracts between producers and users often are necessary. For swine and poultry, grain hybrids richer in total oil, in specific amino or fatty acids, or in available phosphorus have immense potential. For ruminants, high oil hybrids can be very useful, hybrids with higher starch availability hold promise, and new hybrids with higher protein content or phosphorus availability may have potential. Although silage hybrids selected for leafiness and brown midrib often will increase milk yield by lactating cows, reduced forage yields currently limit their economic potential. Even though alterations in certain plant characteristics (e.g., higher grain yield, "stay green", slow kernel drying rate, waxy starch) may help to improve the nutritional value of corn silage, management factors (stage of silage harvest, grain processing during harvest, inoculation) probably exert an even greater impact on its nutritional value. Dairy producers and cattle feeders who grow their own grain or silage are ideally situated to grow hybrids with improved nutritional traits. Only when the economic value to the end user exceeds any increased cost of production will the trait-altered grain prove beneficial economically. However, economic value depends on specific conditions, with values potentially derived from increased yield as well as simplified handling, storage, or processing; reduced environmental impact; higher quality of animal products (milk or meat); enhanced animal health or longevity; as well as improved nutrient content, availability, or balance. The additional cost to produce or to contract for production of specialty grains must be based not only on seed cost but also on yield data from test plots from a nearby location. Animal production benefits can best be predicted based on relative diet costs plus animal production advantages noted in research trials.