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Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster 44691 and The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210
Abstract
Three experiments were conducted to A evaluate effects of feeding either dry, whole shelled or dry, crimped corn grain with varying proportions of corn silage to growing-finishing steers. When whole shelled corn was fed, gains and feed conversions were generally greater with 0 through 4.5 kg corn silage per head in the daily ration. When crimped corn was fed, better performance resulted if some silage was present in the ration. Maximum gains were achieved with corn silage levels ranging from 2.3 to 9.1 kg per head per day. When considering the all-concentrate rations, gains were greater with whole shelled corn than with crimped corn, but when more than 4.5 kg silage was fed, crimped corn gave equal or superior results. The amount of corn grain required per unit of gain was not decreased by feeding 2.3 kg corn silage compared to a ration containing no silage. This was generally true whether whole or crimped corn was fed.
Most carcass traits, when compared on a weight constant basis, were unaffected by treatment. Pooled data indicated that carcass conformation score, percent kidney, pelvic and heart fat, and ribeye area increased as the amount of silage was elevated from 0 through 11.3 kg per head daily.
Feeding all-concentrates resulted in a significant color change in the rumen papillae and extensive papillae clumping and hair accumulation. These changes were more extreme when crimped corn was fed in comparison to whole shelled corn. When corn silage was fed at the rate of 2.3 kg per head or more, no significant papillae clumping or hair accumulation was found. Feedlot performance did not appear to be markedly affected by the rumen wall changes, although gains were comparatively low and rumen papillae degeneration greatest when the all-concentrate ration contained crimped corn.
Feeding all-concentrate rations caused a significant decrease in rumen pH and molar percentage of acetate and an increase in the molar percentage of propionate. Ruminal lactate levels were erratic and generally quite low after the cattle had adapted to the rations. Protozoal numbers were reduced or eliminated completely after 14 to 21 days on feed when silage-free rations were fed. There was some reappearance of protozoa in the rumens of these steers near the end of the feeding period.
All-concentrate feeding significantly improved the overall ration digestibility when compared to feeding corn grain plus 9.1 kg corn silage. There were no major differences in digestion between the two forms of corn, with or without silage. Average starch digestion was the same whether steers were receiving whole shelled or crimped corn grain.
1 Approved for publication as Journal Article No. 80-71 by the Associate Director of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster.
2 The authors wish to acknowledge Dr. C. R. Weaver for assisting with the statistical analyses in this study.
3 Department of Animal Science.
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