Relation between Dry Matter Content and Dry Matter Consumption of Sorghum Silage

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Average ad libitum consumption of 19 sorgum silages by lactating cows and by beef calves at 1 station and 21 silages by beef calves at another station were closely correlated with dry matter percentages of the silages. The silages were prepared in 5 yr from 7 varieties, with various treatments including a small proportion of grain, ground heads, wilted forage, and added carbohydrates. Beef calves, 10 or 12 per group, were group fed ad libitum silage and protein supplement. Lactating cows were fed ad libitum silage and concentrate in 3 replicate 4 x 4 Latin squares each year, except 1 year in which only 3 silages were used. Correlation coefficients for the relationship between average silage dry matter intake, adjusted for concentrate consumption, and percentage silage dry matter were .95, .93, and .93, respectively, for lactating cows and beef heifers at 1 station and beef steers at the other.