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 Agricultural Research and Education Center- -----..--.-.-
 Quincy, Florida | ,r j r'N" r i
 October 19, 1973 t

 Quincy AREC Miimeo Report NF-1974-2 I

 CORU1 SILAGE WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GRAIIN OR
 FIiISiING CATTLE INIDRY LOT. L ... "
 .AS. Un v.of Forida
 F. S. Baker, Jr.1 -- .

 In 1968, Dr. T. W. Perry, Purdue University, reviewed extensive work conducted in the
 iidwest with corn-corn silage finishing rations (Proc. 1968 Fla. Beef Cattle Short Course).
 It was concluded that cattle fed one-half to two-thirds full-feed of corn silage and from
 one-half to one-third full-feed of corn will generally perform most satisfactorily when
 their combined rate and economy of gain is considered. These levels of silage and corn may
 be recommended for southeastern feedlots; however, experience of ilorth Florida feeders in-
 dicate that under some conditions cattle performance on high levels of corn silage may not
 be as satisfactory as that obtained with similar rations in the lidwest. Possible explana-
 tions include:

 1. Southern corn silage may not be as high in energy value as that produced in the
 Midwest.

 2. Todays need for maximum gains and finishing at an early age may necessitate higher
 levels of concentrates and lower levels of silage in finishing rations. This ap-
 pears very probable with heavy-weaning, growth Florida calves (particularly
 exotic crosses), which must make maximum gains after weaning if they are to be
 finished at desirable weights. Also, lightweight Florida calves fed to 500-pound
 slaughter weights undoubtedly need high concentrate rations.

 3. Modern methods of processing grains, such as steam flaking and high moisture fer-
 mentation, significantly improve utilization of the grain and enhance its value
 in relation to that of silage.

 4. Recent studies on associative effects of feeds indicate that the productive energy
 value of a feed may vary with the proportion of the feed in the total ration
 (Ohio research, J. Anim. Sci. 34:851, 1972).

 A series of feeding trials was initiated at AREC, Quincy, to determine the performance
 and carcass characteristics of heavy Florida calves fed in dry lot from weaning to slaughter
 on corn silage with different levels of high moisture corn.

 1972-1973 trial. Heavy Angus crossbred calves (1/8 to 1/4 Brahman) all sired (AI) by
 one bill were trucked from Cocoa to Quincy shortly after weaning for a feeding trial
 comparing various levels of corn silage-high moisture corn. The calves, which were precon-
 ditioned at the ranch, averaged 471 pounds when shipped from Cocoa and 488 pounds 17 days
 later when started on the experimental rations. Levels of corn silage-rolled high moisture
 corn and feedlot results for Phase I, Phase II, and the entire trial are summarized in
 Table 1.


 I/Professor (Animal Husbandman) Agricultural Research and Education Center, Quincy, Florida.