Three factorial experiments were conducted to determine the relative feeding value of dry barley (DB) and high-moisture barley (HMB), and to evaluate the influence of method of ensiling (Pit vs. Harvestore® (HAV) silo), source of roughage (hay vs. silage), and level of concentrate (90 vs. 75%) on the performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot cattle. In exp. 1, 252 steers (initial wt 357 kg) were assigned on the basis of weight to six treatments (two pens × 21 animals per pen). A mixed diet consisting of 85.2% barley grain (dry matter (DM) basis) was offered free choice. The barley portion of the ration consisted of either 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100% DB with the balance being HMB from a pit silo. The sixth treatment consisted of feeding 100% HMB for the first 57 d and 100% DB for the remainder of the trial. Overall average daily gain (ADG) for steers fed 100% DB (1.70 kg d−1) was significantly higher than observed for animals fed 100, 75 or 50% HMB (1.46, 1.49 and 1.56 kg d−1, respectively). The kg of feed DM required per kg gain (FC) varied between 5.76 and 7.13 and was not (P > 0.05) influenced by treatment. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed in carcass characteristics. In exp. 2, 360 steers (initial wt 340 kg) were allotted on the basis of weight to six treatments designed to evaluate the effect of source (Pit vs. HAV) and level of HMB, in diets containing 10.2% silage, on animal performance. Overall ADG (1.11 – 1.17 kg d−1), FC (6.66 – 7.01) and carcass characteristics were similar (P > 0.05) for animals fed Pit HMB, HAV HMB and DB. In exp. 3, 264 weanling calves (initial wt 216 kg) were allotted on the basis of weight to six treatments which differed in type of barley (HMB vs. DB), source of roughage (hay vs. silage) and level of concentrate (75 vs. 90%; DM basis). The feeding period was 127 d. Daily gains varied between 0.78 and 0.91 kg d−1 and FC ranged from 6.40 to 7.10 and were not influenced (P > 0.05) by source of barley or source or level of roughage. While animals fed DB had significantly higher ADG than those fed HMB in exp. 1, the overall results from the three experiments indicate that on a DM basis HMB has similar feeding value to DB, and that there is no major difference between Pit and HAV-stored HMB for feedlot cattle. Key words: High moisture, barley, cattle, gain, feed conversion
Comparative feeding value of steam-flaked triticale as a replacement for steam-flaked corn in finishing diets for feedlot cattle