Performance of Goats and Lambs Fed Corn Silage Produced on Sludge‐Amended Soil

Abstract

AbstractAn animal feeding study was conducted to measure the effects of feeding corn (Zea mays L.) silage grown on sludge‐amended vs. conventionally fertilized soil on the performance of dairy goats (Capra hircus) and market lambs (Ovis aries). Annual applications of 0, 15, 30, and 45 Mg/ha of sewage sludge (105–186 mg Cd/kg) produced corn silage that contained high levels of bioaccumulated Cd (5.26 mg/kg, year III). Zinc accumulated in the silage to a lesser extent, which resulted in undesirably low Zn/Cd ratios. In vitro digestible dry matter, cell wall constituents, acid detergent fiber and lignin, and silica accumulation were not affected by sludge fertilization.Dry matter intake, daily milk production, and feed efficiency of dairy goats were not affected by 3 y of continuous consumption of high Cd silage. Market lambs fed sludge‐fertilized corn silage tended (P < 0.05, year II) to have higher daily gains than did those fed control silage, whereas feed efficiency (kilograms gain ÷ kilograms feed) was not affected by sludge fertilization.