LEVELS OF SUPPLEMENT A AND CORN WITH CORN SILAGE FOR GROWING AND FATTENING STEERS
Research Progress Report 11 April 1962
T. W. Perry, Donald Webb, C. H. Nickel and W, M. Beeson, Department of Animal Sciences and Lynwood Farm (Conducted at Lynnwood Farm, Carmel, Indiana)
Summary
Cattle in all four lots gained well at an economical feed cost per pound of gain.
This research substantiates the value of properly balanced corn silage rations in lowering the cost of beef production.
Statistical analysis of the data indicated there was no difference in gain among the four lots. However based on the trend in the present research and on past experience, it is recommended that calves be fed 2.0 pounds of Supplement A plus 1.5 pound ground shelled corn and free choice minerals along with a full feed of corn silage, in such a program.
This type of feeding is not meant as a finishing program for beef calves. The gains have been very good and quite economical. However, very few steers carry slaughter finish. In the last part of this trial, a full feed of corn will be fed along with the respective levels of Supplement A. For most economical finishing gains in a calf fattening program it would be desirable to feed heavy on corn silage for about the first half of the feeding program. Then during the last half, feed from one-half to a full feed of corn along with 2 pounds of Supplement A 1/ and minerals and corn silage.
It is interesting to note that only 357 to 399 pounds of total digestible nutrients are required to produce 100 pounds of gain when cattle are full fed on corn silage. However on high energy diets 500 to 600 pounds of T.D.N. per 100 pounds of gain are required. Either the reported T.D.N. value for corn silage is too low or the energy from a high corn silage diet is more effectively used than the energy from a.high corn diet.
These data clearly show that the most economical feed for growing and finishing beef cattle in the Midwest is corn silage. Under most conditions approximately 50 percent of the feed value of the corn plant is in the shelled corn and the remainder in the cob, stalks and leaves for cattle.
Corn Silage Lowers Cost
The results of many years of Purdue beef cattle research have shown that the most logical approach to lowering the cost of producing finished beef is through use of corn silage. Some of the earlier Purdue research over a decade ago resulted in the production of "a ton of beef" from an acre of corn silage.
Additional research has shown that large quantities of corn silage can be used
1/ Formula for Supplement A, 1, 000 pounds mix: soybean meal, 650; dehydrated alfalfa meal, 140; molasses, 140; bonemeal, 52; salt (1 oz. cobalt carbonate/100 lb. salt),
17; vitamin A - 10, 000, 000 International units per lb. (Supplies 10, 000 I.U. of vitamin A per lb. of Supplement A), 1.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY • Agricultural Experiment Station • Lafayette, Indiana