Feeding Value of Stored Corn

Abstract

Nine samples of stored surplus corn ranging from one to six years of age were tested by rat feeding experiments to estimate possible deterioration of nutritive value. The samples were obtained from government surplus storage held in 3250 bushel steel bins and 35,000 to 40,000 bushel quonset structures. Data from two experiments are reported. A 3 × 3 balanced lattice design to compare protein nutritive value of the samples indicated a decrease in protein efficiency from 2.72 to 1.81 gm. in corn from one location after five years storage. Other samples obtained from a different location indicated no loss statistically significant at P = .05 after six years storage. When corn was fed as a source of energy in mixed diets, no loss in feeding value was found in samples stored for as much as six years. An increased efficiency of 16 percent was obtained by use of a balanced lattice design in one of the rat feeding experiments.