Wheat, Barley and Corn Silages for Growing Steers and Lambs

Two steer and two lamb growth trials were conducted to measure feeding values of wheat and barley silages. Silage analyses showed that crude protein content decreased as wheat matured from the boot to dough stage. Crude fiber content was highest for boot-and milk-stage silages and lowest for dough-stage silages. In the two steer trials, performance of steers fed corn silage was significantly greater than that of steers fed Blue Boy, Arthur or Parker wheat silages. Steers fed Blue Boy-head silage in trial 1 gained 7.8% faster and consumed 7.7% more dry matter than those fed Parker-head silage. In trial 2, steers receiving barley, corn or equal parts corn and Parker-head silages performed similarly; those fed Arthur silage gained 27.5% faster, consumed 18.0% more dry matter and were 8.8% more efficient than those fed either Parker silage (head or whole-plant). In two lamb trials, lambs fed awnless wheat (Blue Boy or Arthur) or dough maturity silages out performed those fed awned wheat (Parker) or boot-, milk- or ripe-stage silages. In trial 1, sorghum silage resulted in a significantly faster and more efficient gain than any of seven wheat silages. In trial 2, lambs fed Arthur dough- or barley dough-stage silages gained faster and more efficiently than those fed Parker dough-stage silage.