Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station Lafayette, Indiana
Mimeo AS-299 April 28, 1961 (Progress Report)
ALFALFA HAY VS. TWO TYPES OF ALFALFA HAYLAGE VS. ALFALFA SILAGE, FED WITH AND WITHOUT SUPPLEMENT IN A FATTENING RATION FOR STEER CALVES, l/
T. W. Perry, D. D. Cope and W. M. Beeson Department of Animal Science
__________________________________Summary______________________________________
Four methods of harvesting and storing a predominantly alfalfa crop are compared from a nutritive value in a corn fattening ration for beef calves in which the dry matter equivalent of the four products is the same in each lot (6.1 pound per day). The four products tested are, hay (85 percent dry matter) Harvestore haylage (56 percent dry matter), open silo haylage (65 percent dry matter) and direct-chopped silage (36 percent dry matter).
Feeding 2 pounds of Supplement A in addition to a full feed of corn and the respective roughage being tested increased daily gain over a half pound per day (l.8l pounds vs. 2.38 pounds per day). This represents a 31 percent increase in gain (Table 4). Cattle fed supplemental protein required 12 percent less feed per pound of gain. However, feed costs per pound of gain were quite similar and slightly in favor of the cattle fed no supplement (15.O cents vs. 15.3 cents). Cattle fed no supplemental protein are at least one grade lower in finish as of April 11, and it is doubtful if they will finish to a desirable market grade (U.S. Choice) without fortifying the ration with a well balanced supplement.
Chopped hay and Harvestore haylage have been comparable in nutritive value in supplying the roughage portion of a corn fattening ration, either with or without supplemental protein. Rate of gain is quite similar (2.24 pounds vs. 2.26 pounds per day); similarly for feed efficiency (799 pounds vs. 8l8 pounds feed per pound gain) and for feed cost per pound gain (l4.1 cents vs. 14.5 cents per pound gain. Tables 2 and 3)«
Haylage stored in an open top concrete silo was inferior to hay or Harvestore haylage, when fed either with or without supplemental protein (Table 2). Difficulty was experienced in feeding the open-silo haylage rapidly enough to keep ahead of some spoilage. These cattle would not consume as much corn per day as those fed hay or Harvestore haylage.
Without supplemental protein, silage that was direct-chopped and stored without a preservative (lot 4, Table 2) was the poorest of the four methods of storing the alfalfa crop. Corn consumption was lowest for this group and more diffuclty was experienced in keeping the cattle "on feed." However, when 2 pounds of Supplement A was fed (lot 8, Table 2), the cattle grew well and actually had the highest average daily corn consumption (13.4 pounds) of any lot. The greatest contrast of feeding no supplement or of feeding supplement was shown in the silage groups (l,32 pounds vs. 2.38 pounds gain per day).
1/ The Harvestores used for storing the high moisture corn and part of the
haylage were furnished by the A. 0. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.