The effects of silage corn on the growth performance,nutrient digestibility,and feeding economic benefits of beef cattle
This experiment aims to investigate the effects of silage corn on the growth performance,nutrient digestibility,and feeding economic benefits of beef cattle.72 Simmental bulls of similar age with an initial weight of 426.52±31.50kg were selected and randomly divided into 4 groups,with 6 replicates in each group and 3 bulls in each replicate.Each group of beef cattle was fed with the same concentrate,and the roughage was fed with 100%hay,66.67%hay+33.33%silage corn,33.33%hay+66.67%silage corn,and 100%silage corn,respectively.The pre trial period was 7 days,and the main trial period was 90 days.The results showed that compared with the 100%hay group,the 33.33%hay+66.67%silage corn group significantly increased the final weight,average daily weight gain,and average daily feed intake of beef cattle by 4.15%,30.23%,and 21.15%(P<0.05),and the feed to weight ratio significantly decreased by 7.01%(P<0.05).2)Compared with the 100%hay group,the 33.33%hay+66.67%silage corn group significantly increased the digestibility of dry matter and crude protein(P<0.05),while the 33.33%hay+66.67%silage corn group and 100%silage corn group significantly increased the digestibility of acid washed fiber and calcium(P<0.05).3)The feeding economic benefits of the four groups were 1279.85 yuan/animal,1454.69 yuan/animal,1708.80 yuan/animal,and 1456.58 yuan/animal,respectively.Among them,the feeding economic benefits of the 33.33%hay+66.67%silage corn group were the highest.Conclusion:Appropriate levels of silage corn can improve the growth performance,nutrient digestibility,and feeding economic benefits of beef cattle.The optimal combination of roughage is 33.33%hay+66.67%silage corn.
silage cornbeef cattlegrowth performancenutrient digestibilityeconomic benefits of breeding