J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1980. 51:958-965.
© 1980 American Society of Animal Science
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Wheat, Barley, Oat and Corn Silages for Growing Steers1

J. W. Oltjen and K. K. Bolsen

Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506

Abstract

Winter wheat, winter barley, spring oats and corn silages were compared in three trials with growing steers. Corn was harvested at the hard-dent stage and small cereals at the dough stage, except for an additional milk-stage harvest of Eagle wheat in trial 2. Diets were 84 to 86% silage on a dry matter basis. In trial 1, urea and soybean meal supplements also were compared. In trial 1, steers fed corn silage gained fastest and consumed the most dry matter, although efficiency of gain was similar to that for steers fed barley silage (P>.05). Wheat silages supported poorer performance than corn or barley silages; steers fed Blue Boy II wheat gained slowest (P<.05). No significant differences were observed between steers fed diets supplemented with soybean meal and those fed diets supplemented with urea. In trial 2, corn and barley silages supported similar steer performance, and performance of steers fed Arthur wheat silage was similar to that of steers fed corn. Milk- and dough-stage Eagle wheat silages were similar in feeding value. In trial 3, corn and barley supported similar performance. Consumption of corn, barley or wheat silages was similar, although steers fed wheat silage gained more slowly (P<.05) than those fed corn silage. Steers fed oat silage had the slowest gains, lowest consumption and highest feed to gain ratios in trial 3 (P<.05). Silage species (corn, barley, wheat or oats) and silage composition (proximate or acid detergent fiber analyses) accounted for similar variation in steer daily gain. Dry matter intake was affected more by composition of the silage than by plant species, but efficiency of gain was influenced more by plant species. Regression model analysis revealed that silage dry matter and acid detergent fiber were consistently responsible for daily gain and dry matter intake responses (P<.05). Each additional percentage unit of silage dry matter content increased daily dry matter consumption by .08 kg/steer; each additional percentage unit of silage acid detergent fiber decreased daily gain .04 kilogram.

Footnotes

1 Contribution No. 79-216-J, Dept. of Anim. Sci. and Ind., Kansas Agr. Exp. Sta., Manhattan 66506.






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Copyright © 1980 by the American Society of Animal Science.