FEEDING VALUE OF SILAGE FROM A TILLERING AND A NONTILLERING HYBRID CORN

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Abstract
Whole-plant silages made from a tillering corn hybrid (Zea mays L.) and a nontillering corn hybrid had similar digestibilities of dry matter, energy, and protein as assessed with wether sheep. When the silages were fed as the only feed for 56 days to yearling Hereford steers weighing an average of 370 kg, the intake of silage from the nontillering corn tended to be low and the steers only maintained their weight. Steers fed silage from the tillering corn gained 0.45 kg/day. However, with supplemental steamed, rolled barley being given for the remainder of the 112 days, average weight gains for the total period did not differ significantly (P < 0.05) between steers on the two silages. When barley was fed with each of the silages at 0.5% of body weight, the average daily gain of steers for 112 days was the same for the two silages (0.79 kg/day). The digestible energy consumed per unit of gain did not differ significantly (P < 0.05) between the two silages. We conclude that, when fed with a limited amount of barley, silages of equal feeding value could be made from tillering and nontillering corn hybrids grown in southern Alberta.

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