Deer Corn vs. Feed Corn

[knute_m]

The other day I went to Tractor Supply for my bi-monthly bag of corn for the ducks that live on my pond.

There were two pallets of corn -- one pallet of fancy and colorful bags called "deer corn" at $4.99 for 50 lbs. The pallet next to it had corn in plain white bags at $5.99 for 50 lbs.

I asked one of the workers what the difference was between "deer corn" and "feed corn." He told me that the deer corn was cleaner than the feed corn. Supposedly it is just kernals, without any pieces of cob or other debris. He said the feed corn tended to jam automatic deer feeders.

I then asked why the deer corn was cheaper. He didn't know.

Anybody have any clues why cleaner corn should be cheaper?

The deer corn sure looks like the feed corn I've been buying for years. So far, my ducks haven't complained.

 

[BB_TX]

His reasoning about the feeders is correct. Around here, deer corn is often labeled as "recleaned". Clean it twice? But the pricing makes absolutely no sense to me.

 

[jinman]

We've been feeding deer corn to our animals for over a year. It just doesn't make sense to pay extra for it. I think the packaging and distribution of deer corn makes it cheaper. After all, you can't buy "feed corn" at Wal*Mart or Academy Sports, Bass Pro, Cabellas, or any of the hundreds of outlets for deer corn. Competition and mass packaging really does make a difference.

 

[EddieWalker]

I don't know about the price difference, but I have found that there is different quality of corn out there.

I used to buy the 40 pound sacks from Walmart for $3.98 a sack and thought it was a good deal. The animals rarely touched it, and sometimes it would start to turn green on the ground from sitting so long. I just thought people were crazy thinking deer and hogs like corn. hahahah

But then my neighbor told me he was getting his corn from the feed store and that the hogs were loving it. This just seemed like BS to me from what I'd seen. But one day I bought a few sacks of corn from the feed store because Walmart was out. I'm stuborn, but I do learn after awhile.

The hogs started coming around and the results are amazing!!! We have wild hogs eating it just about every night, and when it's cool out, they come in during the day.

Price is about the same. Fifty pounds for $5.

There is a huge difference in corn. I also feed the same corn to my ducks. They seem to like it since they eat it every day and get every single piece.

Eddie

 

[texbaylea]

I am just guessing but perhaps there are more regulations as to source, age and storage,etc, for corn meant for farm animal feed that do not apply to "deer corn".

Vernon

 

[knute_m]

I think it is pretty interesting that all four answers are probably pretty accurate.

After I saw Eddie's post last Friday before leaving work, I stopped by the local co-op and got a bag of feed corn. Six dollars for 50 lbs. I am guessing that it is local corn from last season. I must say, it sure is a lot brighter yellow. The deer corn has what almost looks like mold on some of the kernals.

But, like Eddie's ducks, my silly ducks wait for their nightly ration like a bunch of old-time British sailors waiting for their daily ration of rum. Never a kernal seems to go to waste.

If I were feeding real livestock, I might be a little more particular. Except maybe for the fish in the pond, all the rest of the feeding is pretty much for the moochers. For the last couple of weeks we've seen a big old bear waddling between the pond and the barn. I'm not sure what he might be mooching. The deer have already gotten most everything edible.

Thanks to all for your insight.

Knute

 

[texbaylea]

I haven't researched the regulations but corn is one of the feed grains that can have aflatoxin contamination. If the USDA regulations do not address feeding to wildlife some of the deer corn could be condemned stocks that have a higher than permitted aflatoxin levels.

Vernon

 

[BB_TX]

We went down and set up our feeders last weekend. Stopped at a local feed store to get corn. They also had two types. The "recleaned" deer corn we normally get. Then they had a second type that was $.50 more per bag. The guy said it was cleaner (i.e. had less cob pieces and other debris) than the "recleaned" corn. "Re-recleaned"? He said a lot of people preferred it as it was less likely to clog a feeder. Seems just the opposite of what the TSC guy said. We got the regular type since we always have and never had a problem with it. However, as we were loading the feeders, I noticed more cob pieces than I remembered seeing in the past. Will have to wait and see if that is a problem. Already know the deer like it though as it was already disappearing after each throw.

 

[jinman]

We went down and set up our feeders last weekend. Stopped at a local feed store to get corn. They also had two types. The "recleaned" deer corn we normally get. Then they had a second type that was $.50 more per bag. The guy said it was cleaner (i.e. had less cob pieces and other debris) than the "recleaned" corn. "Re-recleaned"?

That's pretty funny. I went to TSC the other night and I saw "triple-clean" corn. Can quad-clean be far behind?

Now what I gotta figure out is if triple-clean is really clean, what were they doing on cleanings one and two.

 

[bigdaddymomma]

That's pretty funny. I went to TSC the other night and I saw "triple-clean" corn. Can quad-clean be far behind?

Now what I gotta figure out is if triple-clean is really clean, what were they doing on cleanings one and two.

The Feed Store in Raleigh near 84-lumber on old wake forest rd. has
60lbs. for 9:00

 

[crusty 1]

That's pretty funny. I went to TSC the other night and I saw "triple-clean" corn. Can quad-clean be far behind?

Now what I gotta figure out is if triple-clean is really clean, what were they doing on cleanings one and two.

Corn Flakes?:lickingave

 

[weldingisfun]

I haven't researched the regulations but corn is one of the feed grains that can have aflatoxin contamination. If the USDA regulations do not address feeding to wildlife some of the deer corn could be condemned stocks that have a higher than permitted aflatoxin levels.

Vernon

There is the answer to your question, "Anybody have any clues why cleaner corn should be cheaper?", Knute m.

 

[jinman]

Well, speaking of deer corn. . . I just bought four bags yesterday from a local feed store for 13 cents per lb ($6.50/50 lb bag). Tractor supply has 40 lb bags for $5.49 which is 13.7 cents per lb. Walmart has 40 lb bags for $5.60, making theirs the most expensive corn at 14 cents per lb. The feed store told me that if I bought 50 bags, they would give me an additional 10% discount. Who says local guys can't compete with big companies? :thumbsup:

 

[Western]

I used to have feed custom made and asked the feed guy almost the same question. Also learned a little at school at the CDC in Georgia.

His answers best I recall..
)For cheap corn)
1. Tested to high for commercial animal feed, Mold spores IE Aflotoxin
2. Poor quality, last yrs batch. Could be dusty, dirty, cracked. Cracked is bad since it releases it's stored energy, each nugget has the equivalent of 1 BTU if whole, about the only good thing in it really.
3. It's on sale!!

The region you by it in also plays a role. I live in north Texas, my feed company was also in Texas. He said he could buy Texas corn (Field corn) cheaper since it was smaller and of lower quality than the larger Northern raised corn.

Live in Texas?? ever buy a bag at a large box store and notice the unusually small kernels?? Regionally supplied, cuts down on shipping.

Most Deer corn I see is triple cleaned, as a fore mentioned for electric feeders. I buy the deer corn at a reputable feed dealer, his business depends on a good product and I will get a true 50# bag for $7 not a 40# bag from wally world for $6.

Here's a descent article on feeding deer

mmidev3.com - Supplemental Feeding of Deer

 

[forgeblast]

the cleaner corn is used in corn stoves so that you dont have to clean it yourself. i heard the fines and cobb can jam up your corn stove.

 

[steb bsell]

The other day I went to Tractor Supply for my bi-monthly bag of corn for the ducks that live on my pond.

There were two pallets of corn -- one pallet of fancy and colorful bags called "deer corn" at $4.99 for 50 lbs. The pallet next to it had corn in plain white bags at $5.99 for 50 lbs.

I asked one of the workers what the difference was between "deer corn" and "feed corn." He told me that the deer corn was cleaner than the feed corn. Supposedly it is just kernals, without any pieces of cob or other debris. He said the feed corn tended to jam automatic deer feeders.

I then asked why the deer corn was cheaper. He didn't know.

Anybody have any clues why cleaner corn should be cheaper?

The deer corn sure looks like the feed corn I've been buying for years. So far, my ducks haven't complained.

The Deer Corn is probably GMO, making it cheaper...
See this link about suspected GMO Deer Corn
Unethical Journal Retraction Fuels Mistrust in GMO Science
If you don't come straight to it, press ctlr F and put in deer corn in search box, and enter!
Scary isn't it !

 

[lockhaven]

I guess the deer eating directly out of the fields are taking a huge chance, they may not be getting the correct corn.

 

[steb bsell]

I guess the deer eating directly out of the fields are taking a huge chance, they may not be getting the correct corn.

Here is what I referred to on the link. It is only one type of deer corn used to bait or attract deer.
Written by "JamNjim":
"I have my own study everyone can ponder on. I hunt and I belong to a hunting club. We lease nearly 2000 acres and have about 50 members. Up until 5 years ago no one on our lease baited (deer corn). There are only 5 members now that don't use bait and we all hunt in the same area. However, deer travel and you can EASILY spot the deer eating the deer corn. Most of them now have huge tumors hanging from their head/neck area. I saw one young deer this year that had a tumor hanging from his eyelid that was the size of a tennis ball.
When a member harvests a deer it is usually my dad and/or myself that steps in and help with processing the meat. I've been doing this for 30 years and my dad has been doing it for 50+ years. Neither of us has ever seen more than 1 or 2 deer in our entire life with tumors, lesions, and cancers. Every single deer harvested in the past 3 years has had internal tumors around the arm pit area and liver damage/cancer. Even the young deer taken by some of our younger/inexperienced hunters have tumors. At least half of the deer harvested have external tumors (on/under skin).
There are no farms where we hunt. The land is unfavorable for farming. Therefore they are not eating any GMO crops. All of the water in the area is spring fed and is some of the purest in the world. It's been tested several times. The only source of carcinogens these deer are getting is from the DEER CORN many of our members use as bait. The only difference in this corn and the corn you buy in the store is how it is processed. It comes from the same farm land."
If the corn is GMO or treated with glyphosate, nobody over there know yet. But after three years the tumours were rampant. Guess also many deer live longer than cattle for slaughter giving another year to develop tumours?

 

[Thomas]

Interesting read..thanks.

 

[smstonypoint]

Here is what I referred to on the link. It is only one type of deer corn used to bait or attract deer.
Written by "JamNjim":

"JamNjin" blames GMOs, others blame fracking (snopes.com: Cancerous Deer). Tell "JamNjin" to read up on Deer Fibrona: DNR - Deer Fibroma.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.

Steve