Cupplant Silage as a Replacement for Corn Silage in Growing Beef Cattle Diets

Forage and grain crops utilized by the livestock industry are subject to failure under some environmental conditions. The objective of this trial was to investigate the potential for cupplant ( Silphium perfoliatum L.) to fill gaps in livestock feed resource chains. Dietary treatments investigated were 0, 30, and 60% cupplant silage replacing corn ( Zea mays L.) silage. Increasing the inclusion level of cupplant silage from 0 to 30% and 60% resulted in a decline in average daily gain (ADG) for weaned beef calves of 12 and 44%, respectively. However, with yearling beef cattle, no differences in ADG or gain efficiency were observed as cupplant silage level increased in diets. Diet dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) intakes and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibilities were reduced with increasing levels of cupplant silage. Our results show that cupplant silage can be utilized as an alternative forage source to replace a portion of the corn silage in beef calf rations; however, it will reduce ADG.