Corn and Grain Sorghum Evaluations for Beef Cattle

Feeding and digestion trials were conducted to compare steam flaked corn and grain sorghum for beef steers. Four hundred crossbred steers were fed high grain rations for 161 days before slaughter. Steers fed corn gained 2% more on slightly less fed dry matter than steers fed sorghum. Carcasses from steers fed corn were heavier (P<.01) and graded higher (P<.05) than those from steers fed sorghum. Carcasses from steers fed sorghum had slightly larger rib eyes and higher Yield Grades than those in the corn treatment. Dry matter digestibility of sorghum was 95.9% that of corn. Nitrogen retention was similar for both grains. Feeding and carcass observations indicated less fat but more lean in the carcasses of steers fed sorghum. Carcasses produced by steers fed corn averaged $4.00 more when sold than carcasses from steers fed sorghum.