LIME STONE-TREATED CORN SILAGE vs REGULAR CORN SILAGE WITH VARIOUS PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS FOR GROWING BEEF CALVES
Research Progress Report 10 April, 1962
M. T. Mohler, T. W. Perry and W. M. Beeson, Department of Animal Sciences
Summary
Cattle fed 2 pounds of Supplement A plus a full feed of corn silage gained significantly more than those fed either the protein block or the 64 percent supplement. Supplement A was designed originally as a rough-age balancer (Table 3).
The high urea 64 percent supplement did not measure up to either the protein block or to Supplement A as a balancer for the corn silage ration. Urea can replace up to a maximum of one-third of the supplemental protein, satisfactorily. However, when higher levels of urea are incorporated into a supplement, oftentimes inferior growth results are obtained.
The protein block used in this research gives promise as a useful tool for self feeding a balancing supplement in the beef cattle ration. The formula for the block used for the first 28 days contained only 5 percent salt and the cattle consumed 3.4 to 3.7 pounds daily. When the level of salt was increased to 10 percent, a desirable level of approximately 2.0 pound per head daily, was consumed.
Lime stone-treated corn silage and regular corn silage had a similar feeding value, although the cattle on limestone silage gained slightly faster. The limestone corn silage retained a much greener color than the regular corn silage, and contained 3.5 times more carotene than the regular silage. The cattle apparently relished the limestone corn silage more than the regular
corn silage since they consumed an average Of 13 percent more (34.2 vs. 30.2 pounds per day). Feed costs per pound of gain are quite in line as well as the TDN required per pound of gain.
Corn Silage Rations
Corn silage is an excellent feed for beef cattle when it is properly supplemented. In fact, yearling cattle can be fattened to a market finish on a full feed of corn silage plus 2 pounds of Supplement A and 1.5 to 2 pounds of ground shelled corn. Calves can be fed to market finish on a predominantly corn silage ration that is fortified with 2 pounds of Supplement A and a half feed of corn e.g. 1 pound per 100 pounds of body weight daily.
The Ohio Experiment Station has shown consistent benefits from adding .5 percent ground limestone to corn silage at the time of making the silage. A theory that limestone encourages production of increased levels of desirable organic acids has been proposed as an explanation for these benefits.
The objectives of our research were:
1.	To compare the feeding value of regular corn silage with silage that had been made with .5 percent added limestone.
2.	To compare various supplements for supplementing corn silage in the growing ration of beef calves.
(a)	2 pounds of Purdue Supplement A per day (Supplement A contains 32 percent crude protein).
PURDUE UNIVERSITY • Agricultural Experiment Station • Lafayette, Indiana