/ O NORTH FLORIDA EXPERIMENT STATION c-- Lp na .- Quincy, Florida ---- N-5 (v -p June 15, 1967 HUIE LIBRARY NFES Mimeo Report 67-6 JUL 211967 ROLLED HIGH MOISTURE CORN, GROUND SHELLED CORN, GROUND SNAPPED CORN, COTTONSEED HULLS, SORGHUM-SUDAN HAYLAGE, COASTAL BERMUDA HAYLAGE, AND CITRUS MOLASSES IN STEER FINISHING RATIO A.S. Univ. of Florida By F. S. Baker, Jr./, High moisture (23 to 32 percent) grain sorghum produced cattle gain with 10 to 18 percent less dry matter than dry grain sorghum in four Texas trials (Parrett and Riggs. 1966. Texas Agr. Exp. Sta. PR-2423). In a recent midwestern experiment, ground shelled corn added to corn silage at the time of ensiling produced significantly greater calf gains than the same quantity of ground shelled corn added to similar corn silage at the time of feeding, indicating the value of the corn was enhanced by ensiling (Jordan, et al. Minn. Beef Cattle Grasslands Field Day Rep. 1965). Other university studies, as well as numerous feedlot trials, indicate an improvement in utilization of grains with relatively high moisture content stored in gas tight structures, as compared with that of dry grains. Harvesting corn with 22 to 32 percent moisture reduces field losses, but corn with this much moisture requires either artificial' drying or gas tight storage. With sufficient dryer capacity to handle the corn crop during the peak of the harvest season, installation of gas tight storage appears desirable for many cattle feeders. Not only could corn be harvested, stored, and preserved without loss or the necessity of drying, but the research previously cited also indicates that storage in gas tight structures would result in improved utilization of corn by cattle. If more than one filling is needed between harvest seasons, Texas work indicates that dry grain reconstituted by adding water and placing in gas tight storage gives results comparable to grain harvested and stored at high moisture (Tex. Agr. Exp. PR-2423). Two steer finishing trials, the results of which are reported herein, were conducted to obtain experimental data for making recommendations concerning the use of high moisture corn in Florida and the Southeast. PROCEDURE For the first trial, corn was harvested with 14 percent moisture and reconstituted to 23 percent moisture by spraying with water as it passed through a horizontal auger and storing in a gas tight structure. Corn was harvested and stored with an average moisture content of 24.5 percent for the second trial. Cokers 67 and Florida 200A, both locally adapted hybrids, were used in the first, and Florida 200A was used in the second trial. Feeder steers, purchased in Southeastern auction sales, were predominantly of Hereford, Angus, or Hereford-Angus breeding, and graded standard to choice, with an average of low good. Most of the cattle were yearlings, but approximately 40 percent of those in the second trial were two-years-old or older. Weighing conditions were on a buying weight to sale weight basis. Carcass weights (hot weights less 2 1/2 percent) were used to adjust final live weights to a carcass yield of 60.16 percent, which was the overall average yield or dressing percentage of the cattle in the first trial. Adjusting to the same carcass yield permits direct comparison of different groups on a live weight basis, with feed per 100 pounds also directly comparable Animal Husbandman.