Purdue University
Agricultural Experiment Station
Lafayette, Indiana
CORN SILAGE AS A FEED FOR BROOD SOWS
J. H. Conrad and W. M. Beeson
Mimeo, A. H.-151 September 16, 1955
Department of Animal Husbandry
Apparently, sows have a tremendous digestive capacity that has not been utilized to the fullest extent. Self-fed sows, during gestation, will consume 10 to 14 pounds of a bulky ration daily and 16 to 18 pounds of feed daily during lactation.
Previous research at Purdue (Mimeo. 133) has shown that sows will consume 12 to 14 pounds of good corn silage daily during gestation. Furthermore, corn silage properly supplemented and fed throughout the gestation period, resulted in reproductive performance comparable with a conventional type ration of corn, oats, alfalfa meal, protein and minerals. A 28$ saving in feed costs during gestation was noted in the silage fed group as compared to the conventional fed group. Since only one trial had been conducted on feeding corn silage to brood sows, additional information was needed before this practice could be generally recommende d.
The objectives of this experiment were as follows:
1.	To compare the reproductive performance of sows fed corn silage with those fed a conventional ration.
2.	To determine if the factors found in alfalfa meal and fish solubles would improve upon the reproductive performance of sows fed corn silage and a protein supplement.
Experimental Plan
Forty-four 1 and 2-year-old sows were fed the basal ration during the major part of the breeding season. After a majority of the sows had been bred, they were allotted to four groups on the basis of age, weight and breeding date. All sows were confined to dry-lot and continued on their respective gestation treatments until they were moved to the farrowing barn. The experimental gestation treatments were as follows:
Lot 1:	Basal, 6 pounds of a good gestation ration daily
Lot 2: Corn silage free choice, plus 1.5 pounds of supplement Lot 3: Corn silage free choice, plus 1.5 pounds of supplement, plus 0.5 pound of dehydrated alfalfa meal Lot 4:	Corn silage free choice, plus 1.5 pounds of supplement,
plus 0.1 pound of condensed fish solubles The details of the mixtures fed are given in Table 1.
The complete mixed ration, fed in Lot 1, contained 14$ protein, 69$ TDN, 0.9$ calcium and 0.6$ phosphorus by calculation. The silage supplest, fed in Lots 2 to 4, contained 33$ protein and 1.5 pounds of this 8uPplement supplied .57 lb. protein, 75 micrograms of B.-,, 9,000 units °f A and 1,000 units of D, 9 milligrams of riboflavin, 44 milligrams of Scin and 23 milligrams of calcium pantothenate per sow daily.
Sows in all lots were given free access to a mineral mixture (40$ bonemeal, 40$ limestone and 20$ iodized salt) and loose iodized salt.
Corn Silage
The corn silage was harvested with a field ensilage chopper and blown 'nb° an upright silo when the kernels were dented and most of the leaves ere still green. This was made from corn yielding 60 bushels of corn to