Abstract
The chemical composition, digestibility and feeding value of 11 lots of maize silage, 11 lots of dehydrated whole-crop maize pellets and 4 batches of high moisture corn have been studied. Digestibility (determined with wethers) and net energy were generally higher for the maize silages than for the dehydrated pellets. Beef production experiments were carried out over 3 consecutive years with 170 young bulls, to study the influence of method of conservation and the height of cutting on animal performance and on the output of beef per ha. Five basic feedstuffs were given ad libitum: silage from maize cut at 15 cm and at 35 cm above ground level, pellets of dehydrated whole-crop maize which was cut at 13 cm and at 40 cm above ground level, and high moisture maize grain treated with propionic acid. Each group was supplemented with the same protein rich concentrate (19% DCP) at 1% of liveweight. The daily liveweight gain was significantly higher (1431 g/day) for the animals receiving high moisture grain than for those fed with maize silage or maize pellets. The utilisation of the dry matter of the maize silages was more efficient than of the dehydrated maize pellets. The dressing percent and the feed cost price were also in favour of the maize silage rations. The highest beef output per ha of maize was obtained with the silage and the pelleted maize harvested at the lowest height of cutting. A second beef production experiment was carried out with 83 young bulls over 2 years to study the effect of NPN addition to maize just prior to ensiling. From the preliminary results it can be concluded that the addition of 0.5% urea (Rumipec) or 1.9 to 2.4% Pro-Sil (16.6% NH 3) to the silage or plant protein in the concentrate resulted in a significant increase in daily gain and dressing percent compared with the negative control. No difference could be observed between the urea, the NH 3 treatment and the positive control for the entire fattening period.
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