The effects of corn silage feeding level on steer growth performance, feed intake and carcass composition

The influence of corn silage feeding level was examined on eighty-three Charolais crossbred steers (389+30 kg BW). Each steer was randomly assigned to one of four diets which contained either 0, 15, 50 or 85 percent corn silage (CS) dry matter. Each ration was balanced to a 13.6 percent crude protein level. Mineral, vitamin and ionophore fortifications (monensin @ 33 ppm) were similar for each ration. The cattle were fed ad libitum with DM intakes for individual steers recorded weekly. The steers were slaughtered in three groups after achieving a 6 millimetre backfat thickness (ultrasound) or a 600 kg body weight. The cattle were individually fed their assigned rations for either 119, 139 or 168 days before being transported to an abattoir, where they were processed and carcass data was collected.