BARLEY SILAGE, GROUND WHOLE PLANT BARLEY AND CORN SILAGE FOR FINISHING BEEF CATTLE

Barley silage (mid-dough), mature, dry-ground, whole-plant barley, and corn silage were evaluated for growing and finishing steers over two consecutive crop years. Adequate supplemental protein was provided. Steers fed barley silage gained the least and required the most feed dry matter per unit gain. Furthermore, barley silage produced the least fat cover and lowest dressing percent. Performance of steers fed dry-ground barley was intermediate during the first year, but comparable with performance on corn silage in gain and carcass measurements during the second trial. Digestible energy intake tended to be highest for steers fed corn silage. Sheep were used to determine digestibilities of forages fed in the feedlot studies, and of whole-plant barley at various stages of maturity. Corn silage had the highest energy digestibility of all forages studied. Energy digestibility of whole-plant barley decreased slightly to the milk stage but did not change thereafter. After the milk stage, the barley had a moisture content below 70%, thus enabling direct harvesting for silage.

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Corn silage as a source of aflatoxin B1 in feed for dairy cattle

ROMANIAN BIOTECHNOLOGICAL LETTERS ◽

10.25083/rbl/26.4/2759-2764 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 2759-2764

Author(s):

DRAGAN GLAMOČIĆ ◽

MIROSLAVA POLOVINSKI HORVATOVIĆ ◽

IGOR JAJIĆ ◽

SAŠA KRSTOVIĆ ◽

MIRKO IVKOVIĆ ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Dairy Cattle ◽

Aflatoxin B1 ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Aflatoxin M1 ◽

Fresh Matter ◽

Whole Plant ◽

Corn Grain

Nutrition of dairy cattle is based on two components, concentrates and forages. The main forages in Vojvodina, north province of Serbia is silage made from the whole plant of corn. After the outbreak of aflatoxin B1 in corn in 2012, the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 in corn as a source of contamination of aflatoxin M1 in milk was very broadly investigated. There is no data regarding the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 in silage and how much silage can contribute to the overall intake of aflatoxin B1 in this region. This work is an attempt to estimate how much silage, in condition and practice used in Vojvodina, contributes to the intake of aflatoxin B1, and consequently aflatoxin M1 in milk. In total, 82 samples of corn grain and 72 samples of corn silage were analyzed on the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 during 2017-2018 period. Aflatoxin B1 was found in 13.41% of corn samples in the range from 6.82 to 187.5 ppb (average 63.5 ppb). All positive samples were from 2017, while no positive samples were found during 2018. Incidence of aflatoxin B1 in silage was 54.17% in the range of 3.5-58.0 ppb (12% moisture content) or 0.95-16.1 ppb in the fresh matter. Results suggest that silage can be a significant factor to overall intake of aflatoxin B1 and that further research is needed.

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RELATIONSHIPS AMONG WHOLE-PLANT MOISTURE, GRAIN MOISTURE, DRY MATTER YIELD, AND QUALITY OF WHOLE-PLANT CORN SILAGE

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps75-010 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 55 (1) ◽

pp. 77-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

T. B. DAYNARD ◽

R. B. HUNTER

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Yield Potential ◽

In Vitro Digestibility ◽

Research Station ◽

Whole Plant ◽

Grain Moisture ◽

Plant Moisture ◽

Plant Moisture Content

Identical experiments were conducted at the Elora Research Station, near Guelph, Ontario in 1970 and 1971 with the objective of determining the relationships among whole-plant dry matter (DM) yield, whole-plant moisture content, and grain moisture content of corn (Zea mays L.) during the later part of the growing season. Each experiment involved eight commercial hybrids representative of the range in maturity, endosperm type, lodging resistance, and grain yield potential of corn hybrids grown commercially in central Ontario. The hybrids were sampled at weekly intervals over an 8-wk period beginning approximately 1 September; the sampled plants were divided into their leaf, stalk, husk, ear and grain components and oven-dried. Fresh and dry weights were used to calculate dry matter (DM) yields and "at harvest" moisture contents of the various components, and of the entire plant. Averaged across the eight hybrids, maximum DM yield was attained at whole-plant moisture content of 66–70%, and a grain moisture content of 45–50%. Among hybrids, 66% whole-plant moisture corresponded to a range in grain moisture content from 41 to 47%. Two additional experiments were grown also at Elora in 1970 and 1971 to evaluate the effects of harvest date on the DM yield and in vitro digestibility of corn plants and their component plant parts. Each experiment involved four representative commercial hybrids which were sampled at four equal time intervals during the month of September, and divided into grain, cob, husks (including shank) and stover (including leaves, leaf sheaths, stalks and tassels) for dry weight and in vitro digestibility measurement. Whole-plant DM digestibility was essentially constant over a range of whole-plant moisture from 76 to 56% in 1970, and from 76 to 64% in 1971. The consistency of whole-plant digestibility was the result of compensating changes in component yield and digestibility. A decrease in the digestibility of the stover, husks and cob with delayed harvest was compensated for by an increase in the proportion of grain in the whole-plant yield.

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422 Young Scholar Presentation: The Effect of Corn Silage Harvest, Hybrid, and Inclusion Level on Performance in Growing and Finishing Beef Cattle.

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/sky073.419 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 96 (suppl_2) ◽

pp. 226-227

Author(s):

F H Hilscher ◽

A K Watson ◽

J C MacDonald ◽

T J Klopfenstein ◽

G E Erickson

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Young Scholar ◽

Inclusion Level ◽

Finishing Beef Cattle

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Automatically monitoring of dietary effects on rumination and activity of finishing heifers

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an18249 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 59 (10) ◽

pp. 1931

Author(s):

E. Giaretta ◽

A. L. Mordenti ◽

G. Canestrari ◽

A. Palmonari ◽

A. Formigoni

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Wheat Straw ◽

Respiratory Disease ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Sodium Sulfite ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Beef Heifers ◽

The Third ◽

Ash Residue

Rumination and activity behaviours are important welfare indexes in beef-cattle housing. The main objective of the present study was to assess whether the automatic collars are able to reliably assess the rumination and activity patterns of beef heifers. For this purpose, individual rumination time and activity (RT and AT respectively) were continuously recorded using an automatic neck-collar system (Hr-Tag, SCR Engineers Ltd, Israel) on the three trials performed. For Experiment 1, 60 Italian crossbred heifers were randomly assigned to one of two experimental diets for 9 months: the corn–silage diet (CS), which included 50% forage on a dry-matter (DM) basis (43% corn–silage, 7% wheat straw) and the hay diet (HAY), with 57% forage on DM basis (28.5% grass hay, 28.5% alfalfa hay). Heifers consuming HAY diet showed greater (P < 0.05) RT (min/day) and AT (bits/day) than did those on CS diet. Rumination time per kilogram of dry matter and per kilogram of amylase- and sodium sulfite-treated neutral detergent fibre corrected for ash residue (aNDFom) intake were similar in the two experimental groups, while RT per kilogram of physical effective NDF (peNDF) intake was greater (P < 0.05) in the CS group than in the HAY one. Daily rumination and activity patterns (min/2 h and bits/2 h respectively) were significantly different between CS and HAY groups. In the second experiment, 32 beef heifers were randomly allocated in two homogeneous pens, each containing eight animals, and two non-homogeneous ones, in which animals were added at different periods. The AT of non-homogeneous pens was significantly higher than that of the homogeneous ones, suggesting a distress condition for values higher than 309 bits/day AT. In the third experiment, RT and AT of three animals with respiratory disease were collected using the automatic collar system and compared with AT and RT of the healthy animals. Sick animals presented a significantly lower RT and higher AT than did the healthy ones. The cut-off to distinguish sick from healthy heifers was set to 537 bits/day AT and 381 min/day RT. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that automatic collars can reliably monitor different rumination and activity behaviours of beef animals in various management conditions and different health statuses.

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Supplemental Protein Withdrawal and Monensin in Corn Silage Diets of Finishing Steers

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.2527/jas1978.462345x ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 345-349 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

R. M. Dartt ◽

J. A. Boling ◽

N. W. Bradley

Keyword(s):

Corn Silage ◽

Finishing Steers ◽

Supplemental Protein

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337 The evaluation of brown midrib corn silage hybrids and silage inclusion for finishing beef cattle

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.2527/asasmw.2017.337 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 95 (suppl_2) ◽

pp. 164-164

Author(s):

F. H. Hilscher ◽

C. J. Bittner ◽

J. N. Anderson ◽

G. E. Erickson

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Brown Midrib ◽

Finishing Beef Cattle

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Effects of source and concentration of neutral detergent fiber from roughage in beef cattle diets on feed intake, ingestive behavior, and ruminal kinetics

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa107 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Rodrigo S Goulart ◽

Ricardo A M Vieira ◽

Joao L P Daniel ◽

Rafael C Amaral ◽

Vanessa P Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Latin Square ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Ingestive Behavior ◽

Rumen Content ◽

Residence Times

Abstract The objectives of this research were to evaluate the effects of source and concentration of α-amylase-treated neutral detergent fiber (aNDF) from roughage on feed intake, ingestive behavior, and ruminal kinetics in beef cattle receiving high-concentrate diets. Six ruminally cannulated Nellore steers (408 ± 12 kg of body weight) were randomly assigned to a 6 × 6 Latin square design with six diets: 10% aNDF from corn silage (10CS); 20% aNDF from corn silage (20CS); or four diets containing 10% aNDF from corn silage and 10% aNDF from one of the following sources: sugarcane (SC), sugarcane bagasse (SCB), soybean hulls (SH), or low oil cottonseed hulls (LOCH). The parameters of passage and degradation kinetics were estimated based on a two-compartmental model with gamma- and exponential-distributed residence times. The nonlinear models were fitted by nonlinear least squares, and a linear mixed-effects model was fitted to all variables measured from the Latin square design that were related to intake, digestibility, digestion kinetic parameters, and residence times. Mean particle size (MPS) between roughage sources (CS, SCB, and SC) and coproducts (SH and LOCH) was affected (P < 0.05). Dry matter intake (DMI) was not affected (P > 0.05) by 20CS, SC, SH, or LOCH. Steers fed 20CS or LOCH diets had 16% and 20% greater DMI, respectively, (P < 0.05) than steers fed 10CS diet. Steers fed SCB consumed the least dry matter (DM). The SH and LOCH diets had lower MPS values (about 8.77 mm) in comparison to 20CS, SCB, and SC diets (about 13.08 mm) and, consequently, affected (P < 0.05) rumen content, ruminal in situ disappearance, nutrient digestibility, and solid fractional passage rate. Chewing time was affected (P < 0.05) by roughage sources and concentration. Lower values of distance travel inside the rumen (min/cm) were observed (P < 0.05) for the SCB and SC diets in comparison with any other diet. Except for SCB, there was no difference (P > 0.05) in rumen fill, among other treatments. Mean daily ruminal pH was not affected (P > 0.05) by 20CS, SCB, SC, and LOCH diets, and it ranged from 6.1 to 6.23. Total short-chain fatty acids concentration was affected (P < 0.05) by roughage source and concentration. Based on our results, we recommend that under Brazilian finishing diets, replacing roughage sources, except for SCB, based on aNDF concentration of the roughage in high-concentrate diets containing finely ground flint corn does not affect DMI.

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ENSILING CHARACTERISTICS OF SILAGES TREATED WITH SODIUM HYDROXIDE

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps76-151 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 935-940 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

PAUL FLIPOT ◽

D. N. MOWAT ◽

J. G. BUCHANAN-SMITH ◽

J. J. PARKINS

Keyword(s):

Corn Stover ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Alkali Treatment ◽

Lactic Acid Production ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Total N ◽

Whole Plant ◽

Corn Stover Silage ◽

On Farm ◽

Farm System

Two trials were conducted to investigate the effect of NaOH on the ensiling characteristics of corn and alfalfa forage. In one trial, NaOH was added at levels of 0, 2, 3, or 4% of dry matter (DM) to whole plant corn and 0 or 3% to corn stover, and ensiled in cryovac bags. In a second trial, 0 or 3% NaOH was added to whole plant corn or alfalfa (25–40% DM). In addition, alfalfa had molasses added at a level of 0 or 10% of the forage DM. Materials were ensiled in miniature silos of 250-ml capacity. Additions of NaOH to all forages increased silage pH (P < 0.05). Molasses may have some influence in limiting the rise in pH after addition of NaOH but the effect appears to be limited. Alkali treatment of corn stover silage and corn silage generally increased lactic acid production. Total-N of all silages tended to decrease with NaOH treatment. However, alkali treatment markedly reduced soluble-N with all forages (P < 0.05), except with corn stover. Molasses also reduced soluble-N (P < 0.05) with alfalfa silage of low DM content. Treating forages while ensiling would appear to represent a suitable on-farm system for alkali treatment.

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Use of barley or corn silage when fed with barley, corn, or a blend of barley and corn on growth performance, nutrient utilization, and carcass characteristics of finishing beef cattle

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txz168 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 129-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jordan A Johnson ◽

Brittney D Sutherland ◽

John J McKinnon ◽

Tim A McAllister ◽

Gregory B Penner

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Feed Ratio ◽

Final Body Weight ◽

Liver Abscesses ◽

Finishing Beef Cattle

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the source of silage, cereal grain, and their interaction on growth performance, digestibility, and carcass characteristics of finishing beef cattle. Using a completely randomized design within an 89-d finishing study, 288 steers were randomly assigned to 1 of 24 pens (12 steers/pen) with average steer body weight (BW) within a pen of 464 kg ± 1.7 kg (mean ± SD). Diets were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial with corn silage (CS) or barley silage (BS) included at 8% (dry matter [DM] basis). Within each silage source, diets contained dry-rolled barley grain (BG; 86% of DM), dry-rolled corn grain (CG; 85% of DM), or an equal blend of BG and CG (BCG; 85% of DM). Total tract digestibility of nutrients was estimated from fecal samples using near-infrared spectroscopy. Data were analyzed with pen as the experimental unit using the Mixed Model of SAS with the fixed effects of silage, grain, and the two-way interaction. Carcass and fecal kernel data were analyzed using GLIMMIX utilizing the same model. There were no interactions detected between silage and grain source. Feeding CG increased (P < 0.01) DM intake by 0.8 and 0.6 kg/d relative to BG and BCG, respectively. Gain-to-feed ratio was greater (P = 0.04) for BG (0.172 kg/kg) than CG (0.162 kg/kg) but did not differ from BCG (0.165 kg/kg). Furthermore, average daily gain (2.07 kg/d) and final body weight did not differ among treatments (P ≥ 0.25). Hot carcass weight (HCW) was 6.2 kg greater (372.2 vs. 366.0 kg; P < 0.01) and dressing percentage was 0.57 percentage units greater (59.53 vs. 58.96 %; P = 0.04) for steers fed CS than BS, respectively. There was no effect of dietary treatment on the severity of liver abscesses (P ≥ 0.20) with 72.0% of carcasses having clear livers, 24.4% with minor liver abscesses, and 3.6% with severe liver abscesses. Digestibility of DM, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and starch were greater for BG (P < 0.01) than CG or BCG. As expected, grain source affected the appearance of grain kernels in the feces (P ≤ 0.04). Feeding CS silage increased the appearance of fractured corn kernels (P = 0.04), while feeding BS increased fiber appearance in the feces (P = 0.02). Current results indicate that when dry rolled, feeding BG resulted in improved performance and digestibility compared with CG and BCG. Even at low inclusion levels (8% of DM), CS resulted in improved carcass characteristics relative to BS.

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