Purdue University	Mimeo AH-162
Agricultural Extension Service	August 1957
CATTLE FEEDER’S HANDBOOK
T. W. Perry, Wm. Beeson, H. Kayo, R. Brower, K. G. MacDonald Animal Husbandry Department
M. Paul Mitchell
Agricultural Economics Department
The purpose of this mimeograph is to furnish information which can be used as a guide in working out practical farm programs for beef cattle, based on research findings.
General Considerations in Beef Cattle Programs.
Beef cattle by nature are equipped to make use of large amounts of forage in their rations. With greater emphasis on the production of forage, in light of the surplus grain situation and the development of soil conservation programs, much interest has been focused on practical uses of forage in livestock rations.
A few general statements to keep in mind concerning cattle feeding are:
1.	In all cattle feeding programs, it is of primary importance that the quality of the cattle selected match the quality of the feed to be fed.
2.	Silage and hay are the most common roughages for beef cattle. Silage may be substituted for hay in the ration at the rate of 3 pounds of silage for one pound of hay.
3.	In comparing mixed hay vs. corn silage as a winter feed for beef cattle, Purdue trials have shown that gains with properly supplemented silage have been twice as fast and 40 percent cheaper than with hay without supplement.
4.	Silage, properly supplemented with protein and minerals, may be used as the only feed for fattening cattle with satisfactory results.
5.	Cattle can be placed on a full feed of silage from the beginning of the feeding period without any detrimental effects.
6.	Grass silage must be supplemented with additional energy feeds such as com or molasses, to be of the same value as com silage.
7* Corn silage alone will not meet the protein requirements of beef cattle. A supplemental feed, rich in protein, is needed.
8.	Borgnum silage has 85 to 90 percent the feeding value of com silage and must be supplemented in the same manner as com silage.
9.	Cattle on a full feed of corn silage will consume 5 to 6 pounds of silage per 100 pounds of live weight.
10.	As a rule of thumb, when cattle are on a full feed of grain, they can safely consume approximately 2 pounds of grain per 100 pounds body weight per day.