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The Value of Hay Pellets when Fed with Grass Silage and Mixed Hay in Wintering Rations for Steer Calves

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

Abstract

A total of 144 feeder steer calves were used in three experiments to determine the value of hay pellets when fed to provide approximately one-fourth the roughage in wintering rations. Either mixed hay or grass silage was full-fed as the major roughage in the rations. All the pellets were made from finely-ground forage by conventional pelleting machines. The original forages that were pelleted were as follows: Experiment I, field-cured, second- or third-cutting alfalfa; Experiment II, average quality first-cutting, field-cured baled mixed hay with about 50% alfalfa; and Experiment III, artificially dehydrated third-cutting alfalfa.

When fed with average quality mixed hays, the lots receiving 3.0 lb. of pellets made the greater gains in each experiment, averaging about 25% greater for the three experiments than the lots fed long hay without pellets. The amount of dry matter required per 100 lb. gain was less for the calves fed the pellets plus mixed hay than for those fed long hay, ranging from 8% to 21% less. When fed with grass silage 3.0 lb. of the alfalfa pellets were fully equal in feeding value to 2.0 lb. ground shelled corn. The pellets made from baled, field-cured mixed hay were of somewhat lower value.