Corn, also known as maize, is a staple crop that’s grown all over the USA. Corn comes in many different forms and it’s often found in horse feed. And as a horse owner, you might be wondering “can horses eat corn on the cob?”
The answer to this question isn’t a straightforward one. So below, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about horses eating corn on the cob.
Can Horses Eat Corn?
No part of the corn plant is toxic for horses to eat, however, some of the parts such as the cob and husk might pose a choking hazard.
Corn kernels are a dense, heavy, high energy food that contain lots of starch. This means that it's a good “heating” food for performance horses. It’s also a good food for horses who struggle to keep weight on in the winter.
On top of this, corn is the only grain that contains beta carotene which is a powerful antioxidant. And your horse will convert beta carotene into vitamin A which is good for its eyes.
Corn kernels also contain potassium, phosphorus, zinc and iron. Which help to support your horse's blood, bones, muscles and immune system.
Corn Kernels - Can Horses Eat Them?
Corn kernels are processed and prepared in many different ways and they’re the most nutritious part of the corn. You’ll find the whole, shelled, cracked, crushed, flaked and ground corn kernels. Horses can eat most types of corn kernels, but some of them are not safe for your horse to eat.
The kernels on a fresh corn cob are safe for your horse to eat. And cracked and rolled corn kernels are the easiest for your horse to digest. But you should never feed horses crushed or powdered corn kernels. These pass through a horses digestive system too quickly and can cause colic and other digestive complaints.
Whole corn kernels are usually quite hard so you should avoid feeding them to horses with dental problems. Whole corn is the least digestible and often this will pass straight through your horse and come out whole on the other side.
Can Horses Eat Corn Cob?
The cob of the corn is the thick, hard central portion that the kernels are stuck to. The cob isn’t toxic to horses, however, it contains very little nutritional value. On top of this, the hard cob can easily become a choking hazard. It’s for this reason that most owners won't feed their horses corn cob.
However, feeding corn on the cob may be good for horses that rush eating their grains. Feeding corn on the cob can slow fast eaters down because they have to pick the kernels off the cob. But you should always supervise your horse while it’s eating corn off the cob.
Corn Husk - Can Horses Eat Them?
The corn husk is found on the outside of a corn cob. It’s made up of tough, green leaves that cover and protect the corn when it’s growing. Just like the cob, the husk doesn’t have any nutritional value and it’s hard for horses to eat. So it’s not advisable to feed the husk to your horse.
Can Horses Eat the Corn Stalk?
Corn stalks are often baled and fed to cattle in the USA. This is because they can be used to bulk out other forage such as hay. Just like the corn husk and cob, stalks have very little nutritional value.
Horses can eat corn stalks, however, stalks should only make up a small part of their forage rations. A horse should never depend solely on corn stalks for nutrition. Instead, you should mix the stalks with high-quality forage. And your horse should only eat corn stalks on a short term basis.
Corn stalks can be made into silage too. But silage is bad for horses so you should never feed them corn stalk silage.
Warnings About Horses Eating Corn
The biggest concern when it comes to feeding your horse corn is the risk of moldy corn disease. This is caused by mycotoxins that are found on rotten or moldy corn, especially the husks. This is a fatal disease that affects your horse's brain. And to avoid this, you should never feed your horse moldy corn. A lot of the time, this mold isn’t even visible. So you should always buy your corn from reputable growers who test their corn for mold.
Another warning when it comes to feeding your horse corn is that you should never feed your horse too much corn all at once. One of the reasons for this is that it contains a lot of starch which is difficult for your horse to digest. Too much starch in your horses gut can lead to an imbalance of gut bacteria and colic.
Excessive starch is also bad for horses with metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance and laminitis. So if you have a horse with any of these conditions then you shouldn’t feed it corn. As well as this, you shouldn’t feed your horse too much corn if it isn’t working or is prone to obesity.
How to Prepare Corn for Horses
The safest way to feed your horse corn on the cob is to remove the kernels and just feed these to your horse. The kernels are the most nutritious part of corn. Whereas the rest has little nutritional value and also poses a choking hazard. If you do want to feed your horse corn on the cob then you should always supervise your horse while it’s eating it.
Conclusion
So, can horses eat corn on the cob? The answer to this is a tricky one. Even though all parts of corn are non-toxic to a horse, the husk and cob can pose a choking hazard. The corn kernels are the most nutritious part, however, they contain high amounts of starch. So you should avoid feeding them to overweight horses or horses with laminitis or insulin resistance. And to avoid moldy corn disease, always buy your corn from a reputed seller who tests the corn for mold.
