Final answer:
It is generally advised to grind or process dry corn when feeding it to dairy cows to enhance digestibility and ensure the cows are getting the maximum nutritional value from their feed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the dietary requirements of dairy cows, and whether it is necessary to grind or process dry corn before feeding it to them. In consideration of cattle nutrition, it's important to understand that while cattle are naturally predisposed to eat grass and hay, many farms opt to feed them corn, which is a more economical feed option and promotes quicker weight gain.
However, since dairy cows are commonly fed hay, especially during the winter months when grazing is not feasible, there is a practice of providing a steady diet that includes dry corn. Without grinding or processing corn, the digestibility can be affected, and the cows might not fully extract all the nutritional value from the feed.
On industrial farms, where the corn is plentiful and inexpensive due to various US farm policies, the practice of feeding unprocessed corn could potentially result in wastefulness, as the digestible energy might not be entirely absorbed by the cows
. As such, processing corn by grinding may improve the efficiency of the cows' digestion and their overall health.