Feeding Combinations of High Moisture Corn and Dry-Rolled Grain Sorghum to Finishing Steers

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Abstract
Five trials were conducted using pen-fed crossbred yearling steers to determine the effects of feeding mixtures of high moisture corn (HMC) and dry-rolled grain sorghum (DRGS) on performance of finishing steers, and to determine site and extent of digestion of these grains in steers. The HMC was ground and stored in a concrete bunker and covered with polyethylene. In trial 1, steers fed a mixture of HMC and DRGS were more efficient (quadratic effect, P<.05) than steers fed either 100% HMC or 100% DRGS. Steers that were fed grain mixtures were 9.4% more efficient than would be expected from the performance of steers fed HMC or DRGS fed alone. In trial 2, steers fed grain mixtures tended to gain faster than steers fed 100% HMC or 100% DRGS. A 5.4% positive associative effect was observed for gain/feed when steers were fed grain mixtures. In trial 3, steers fed either 75 HMC:25 DRGS for the entire trial or fed 75 HMC:25 DRGS for 55 d and then switched to 100% HMC tended to gain faster (P<.15) and as efficiently as steers that received 100% HMC throughout the trial. In trial 4, steers fed HMC alone or in combination with dry rolled corn or DRGS gained similarly. A 3.2% positive associative effect was observed for gain/feed when steers were fed grain mixtures. In trial 5, feeding grain mixtures improved ruminal starch digestion 14% and total tract starch digestion 2% above expected means. Results are interpreted to suggest that feeding a combination of HMC and DRGS results in a positive associative effect in gain/feed and is partially explained by increased ruminal digestion of DRGS. Copyright © 1987. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1987 by American Society of Animal Science.