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Ratios of Corn to Corn Silage for Finishing Beef Cattle¹

Purdue University, W. Lafayette, Indiana 47907

Abstract

Five experiments were conducted with steer calves and yearlings to study the extent to which corn silage energy could be substituted for shelled corn energy for finishing beef cattle. The amount of corn fed in addition to corn silage and supplement ranged from 2 lb (.9 kg) per head daily to 85.65% of the total dry matter of the diet.

Cattle fed highest levels of corn along with limited or no corn silage gained significantly (P<.01) more rapidly than those fed the high silage diets in four of the five experiments. In one experiment when various levels of corn silage feeding were compared, calves fed either one-third or two-thirds of a full feed of corn gained as rapidly as those fed a full feed of corn.

Feed requirement per unit of gain on an air dry basis generally was less for cattle fed the higher proportions of corn. However, since feed per unit gain does not account for differences in fiber content, TDN per unit gain was calculated. Cattle fed the higher silage diets were as efficient converters of available energy to gain as were those fed the higher levels of corn.

¹ Journal Paper No. 3469, Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station.