TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of feeding high-moisture corn stover to gestating and lactating beef cows as an alternative to hay and corn silage on performance and reproduction
AU - Meteer, W. C.
AU - Shoup, L. M.
AU - Chapple, W. P.
AU - Meteer, W. T.
AU - Shike, D. W.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists
PY - 2018/4
Y1 - 2018/4
N2 - The objectives of this study were to evaluate ensiled high-moisture corn stover as an alternative forage for beef cows. In Exp. 1, multiparous, gestating Simmental and Angus × Simmental cows (n = 96) were limit fed 1 of 3 treatments: (1) 60% high-moisture corn stover, 25% ground cornstalks, and 15% corn gluten feed (HMCS); (2) 60% corn silage, 25% ground cornstalks, and 15% corn gluten feed (SIL); or (3) 60% hay, 25% ground cornstalks, and 15% corn gluten feed (HY) from 108 ± 14 to 38 ± 14 d prepartum. In Exp. 2, lactating Simmental and Simmental × Angus cows (n = 79) were limit fed 1 of 2 treatments at calving: (1) 75% high-moisture corn stover and 25% dried distillers grains (HMCS2) or (2) 70% corn silage and 30% dried distillers grains (SIL2). Diets were limit fed to achieve NASEM (2016) requirements for maintenance and lactation. In Exp. 1, BW gain was greater (P < 0.01) for cows fed SIL than cows fed HY or HMCS. In Exp. 2, BW gain was greater (P < 0.01) for cows fed SIL2 than cows fed HMCS2; however, no differences (P ≥ 0.17) were detected in milk production, subsequent AI conception, or overall pregnancy rates. The similar performance of gestating cows fed hay or high-moisture corn stover indicates high-moisture corn stover is a viable hay replacement. When fed to lactating cows, high-moisture corn stover could be fed as a replacement to corn silage with no effect on milk or reproduction. Overall, feeding high-moisture corn stover is a cost-saving strategy in both stages of production.
AB - The objectives of this study were to evaluate ensiled high-moisture corn stover as an alternative forage for beef cows. In Exp. 1, multiparous, gestating Simmental and Angus × Simmental cows (n = 96) were limit fed 1 of 3 treatments: (1) 60% high-moisture corn stover, 25% ground cornstalks, and 15% corn gluten feed (HMCS); (2) 60% corn silage, 25% ground cornstalks, and 15% corn gluten feed (SIL); or (3) 60% hay, 25% ground cornstalks, and 15% corn gluten feed (HY) from 108 ± 14 to 38 ± 14 d prepartum. In Exp. 2, lactating Simmental and Simmental × Angus cows (n = 79) were limit fed 1 of 2 treatments at calving: (1) 75% high-moisture corn stover and 25% dried distillers grains (HMCS2) or (2) 70% corn silage and 30% dried distillers grains (SIL2). Diets were limit fed to achieve NASEM (2016) requirements for maintenance and lactation. In Exp. 1, BW gain was greater (P < 0.01) for cows fed SIL than cows fed HY or HMCS. In Exp. 2, BW gain was greater (P < 0.01) for cows fed SIL2 than cows fed HMCS2; however, no differences (P ≥ 0.17) were detected in milk production, subsequent AI conception, or overall pregnancy rates. The similar performance of gestating cows fed hay or high-moisture corn stover indicates high-moisture corn stover is a viable hay replacement. When fed to lactating cows, high-moisture corn stover could be fed as a replacement to corn silage with no effect on milk or reproduction. Overall, feeding high-moisture corn stover is a cost-saving strategy in both stages of production.
KW - alternative forage
KW - beef cow
KW - high-moisture corn stover
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044144110&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85044144110&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.15232/pas.2017-01675
DO - 10.15232/pas.2017-01675
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85044144110
SN - 1080-7446
VL - 34
SP - 210
EP - 217
JO - Professional Animal Scientist
JF - Professional Animal Scientist
IS - 2
ER -