Abstract
The objective of this study was to review the effect of ensiling on the feeding value of flint corn grain and performance of feedlot cattle. In this meta-analysis, ensiled corn grain included both high-moisture corn and rehydrated corn grain. The criteria for a publication enter in the database were: diet was offered as a total mixed ration, diet contained at least 300 g/kg dry matter (DM) of ensiled or dry corn grain, and ensiled grain contained a minimum of [...]
Highlights
Corn grain is the main energy source in US (Samuelson et al, 2016) and Brazilian (Oliveira and Millen, 2014) beef feedlot diets
The criteria for a publication enter in the database were: diet was offered as a total mixed ration, diet contained at least 300 g/kg dry matter (DM) of ensiled or dry corn grain, and ensiled grain contained a minimum of 280 g/kg of moisture
The feeding value was on average 25.7% higher for ensiled corn grain compared with dry corn grain
Summary
Corn grain is the main energy source in US (Samuelson et al, 2016) and Brazilian (Oliveira and Millen, 2014) beef feedlot diets. Corn hybrids cultivated in Brazil are predominantly flint, with a higher proportion of vitreous endosperm than dent hybrids predominant in the US and other countries with temperate climate. Comparing Brazilian and US corn kernels, Correa et al (2002) reported a higher proportion of vitreous endosperm for Brazilian (average 0.731) than for US hybrids (average 0.482). Endosperm vitreousness is negatively related to starch digestibility (Correa et al, 2002). Flint hybrids with higher proportion of vitreous endosperm are harder to break down during physical processing (Philippeau and Michalet-Doreau, 1997), which might worsen starch digestion
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
