FEEDING VALUE FOR BEEF AND DAIRY CATTLE OF HIGH MOISTURE CORN PRESERVED WITH PROPIONIC ACID
Two trials with growing-finishing steers and one trial with lactating dairy cows were conducted to evaluate the feeding value of high moisture (HM) corn preserved with 1.5% propionic acid on a wet weight basis. Combining all treatments, acid-treated HM corn was 9% more efficient (P < 0.05) for weight gains than dry corn. Ensiled HM corn also tended to be utilized more efficiently by steers than dry corn when no fat was included in the ration. However, in the second steer trial, acid-treated reconstituted HM corn was comparable in performance with dry corn. Addition of 4% tallow tended to improve feed efficiency by 5–6% with dry or acid-treated HM corn, but to decrease feed efficiency with ensiled HM corn. No significant differences were observed in forage dry matter intake, milk production, or milk composition with cows fed treated HM corn compared with dry corn. However, a trend for a slight reduction in milk fat percent occurred with the treated corn ration.