Author: F. Henry Hilscher (Jr)

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780438208544

Six studies were conducted to evaluate effects of corn silage harvest, hybrid, and concentration in growing and finishing diets. Experiment 1, evaluated corn silage DM (37 or 43%) and replacing corn grain with silage (15 or 45% of diet DM) in finishing diets. Experiment 2, evaluated corn silage DM (37 or 43%) and response to rumen undegradable protein (RUP) supplementation in growing diets. Experiment 3, evaluated nutrient digestibility of 37 or 43% DM corn silage at two different intakes. Experiment 4, 5, and 6 evaluated three corn silage hybrids: a standard hybrid control (CON), a brown midrib (bm3) hybrid (BM3), and an experimental bm3 hybrid (BM3-EXP) with a soft endosperm trait. Experiment 4 evaluated the three hybrids and concentration (15 or 45% of diet DM) in finishing diets, while Exp. 5 and 6, evaluated the same three silage hybrids in growing diets. In Exp. 1 with finishing cattle, as DM of silage increased from 37 to 43%, there were no differences (P ≥ 0.30) in DMI, ADG, or G:F. In Exp. 2 with growing cattle, as DM of silage increased from 37 to 43%, ADG and G:F were reduced (P ≤ 0.04). Increasing supplemental RUP in the diet increased (P ? 0.05) ending BW, ADG, and G:F linearly. In Exp. 1 and 4, as concentration of silage in the finishing diet increased from 15 to 45%, ADG and G:F decreased (P ≤ 0.04). In Exp 4, BMR-EXP had the greatest ADG and G:F at 15% silage. At 45% silage, both bm3 hybrids had greater (P ≤ 0.05) ADG than CON, but G:F was greatest for cattle fed BM3 (P