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Comparison of the Effects of Three Methods of Harvesting and Storing Alfalfa on Nutrient Digestibility by Lambs and Feedlot Performance of Steers

University of Illinois¹, Urbana 61801

Abstract

Two lamb digestion and three streer growth experiments were conducted to study the feeding value of alfalfa harvested as direct-cut silage (DCS) with grain added prior to ensiling or as low-moisture silage (LMS) or hay with grain added at feeding. In all experiments, alfalfa-grain mixtures contained approximately 50% alfalfa and 50% concentrate (dry matter [DM] basis). In Exp. 1, lambs fed DCS alone consumed less DM than lambs fed LMS or hay alone or any of the alfalfa-grain mixtures. Apparent digestibilities of DM and fiber components were higher (P<.05) for DCS than for LMS or hay. Lambs that were fed LMS digested more (P<.05) DM and fiber components than lambs fed hay. Addition of grain resulted in increased (P<.05) DM digestibility and decreased (P<.05) digestibilities of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. In Exp. 2, growing steers (271 kg) fed DCS-grain had increased (P<.05) weight gains compared with steers fed hay-grain. Steers fed any of the alfalfa-grain mixtures gained weight more rapidly (P<.05) than steers fed corn silage (CS)-based diets. In a third experiment, finishing steers (283 kg) fed DCS-grain, LMS-grain, hay-grain or CS-based diets performed similarly (P>.05), although steers fed DCS-grain had higher (P<.05) dressing percentages and yield grades than steers that were fed the other three diets and were fatter (P<.05) than those fed LMS-grain or CS. In Exp. 4, lambs fed DCS-grain or LMS-grain had higher (P<.05) apparent DM and organic matter digestibilities than lambs fed CS-based diets with similar forage:grain proportions. In Exp. 5, finishing steers (326 kg) fed DCS-grain gained similarly (P>.05) to steers fed LMS-grain or an 85% concentrate diet based on high-moisture corn. Steers fed CS diets had lower (P<.05) gains and increased (P<.05) feed per gain compared with steers fed DCS-grain, LMS-grain or high-moisture corn.

¹ Dept. of Anim. Sci.