Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station Lafayette, Indiana
Mimeo aH 125 April 23, 1952
SUPPLEMENTATION OF CORN SILAGE AND GRASS SILAGE FOR FATTENING CATTLE
M. T. Mohler, T. W. Perry, and W. M. Beeson
Today there is a trend toward greater utilization of roughages such as corn silage and grass silage in cattle feeding in order to cheapen the cost of producing beef. These silages are capable of producing choice beef if they are properly supplemented to compensate for the limiting nutritional deficiencies. Since corn silage and grass silage have different feed values and nutrient compositions, it is necessary to supplement them in a different manner. Previous research has shown that choice cattle can be produced on corn silage plus 3-5 pounds of Supplement A or by feeding grass silage (made with a preservative) along with 5 pounds of shelled corn and 2 pounds of Supplement A.
This experiment was designed (1) to determine the amount of Supplement A (2.0 vs. 3.5 per steer daily) required to make maximum gains on corn silage;
(2) to study the need for a supplement when corn is fed with grass silage; and
(3)	to develop a new 22$ supplement for feeding with grass silage.
Experimental Plans
One hundred and fifty yearling Hereford steers, which were raised in Wyoming, were purchased at an average price of $21.50 per hundredweight and delivered to Lafayette, Indiana. The average purchase weight was 627 pounds. Forty of these steers averaging about 670 pounds were used for this experiment. The steers were equally divided according to weight, type, and general thriftiness into four lots of 10 steers each.
Method of Feeding
Corn silage and grass silage were hand fed twice daily according to the appetite of the steers. Half of the supplement and/or ground shelled corn was scattered over the silage at the morning and evening feed and thoroughly mixed with a silage fork in the feed bunk.
Description of Silages
Corn Silage:
The corn silage was harvested with a field ensilage chopper and blown into an upright silo when the kernels were dented and some of the leaves were still green. The yield was 15 tons of silage per acre and BO bushels of corn. Figuring corn at $1.50 per bushel and the cost of ensiling at $3 «C0 per ton, the corn equivalent cost of silage was $11.00 per ton.
A^ass Silage:
The grass silage (l/2 alfalfa and l/2 red clover) was chopped directly from the field (no wilting) and blown into an upright silo with the addition °f 150 pounds of corn-and-cob meal and ICO pounds of ground cobs per ton. Corn-and-cob meal was added as a preservative and the extra cobs to absorb the excessive moisture. This method prevents the silage from seeping and losing
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