Publication Date

1997

Description

The objective of this study was to determine whether maceration of alfalfa forage at the time of harvest will have a positive impact on intake, digestibility and performance in beef cattle. A performance trial conducted with 24 growing beef calves resulted in a 7% and 10% increase (P<0.05) in dry matter intake (kg/d) and daily gain (kg), respectively, when animals were fed alfalfa silage harvested with a macerator vs. a mower conditioner. Feed efficiency was not affected by treatment. Four steers assigned to alfalfa hay harvested with a macerator vs. mower conditioner showed no differences in dry matter intake, however, dry matter digestibility for the macerated hay was higher.

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Intake, Digestion and Performance Comparisons for Cattle Fed Macerated vs. Roller-Conditioned Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Forage

The objective of this study was to determine whether maceration of alfalfa forage at the time of harvest will have a positive impact on intake, digestibility and performance in beef cattle. A performance trial conducted with 24 growing beef calves resulted in a 7% and 10% increase (P<0.05) in dry matter intake (kg/d) and daily gain (kg), respectively, when animals were fed alfalfa silage harvested with a macerator vs. a mower conditioner. Feed efficiency was not affected by treatment. Four steers assigned to alfalfa hay harvested with a macerator vs. mower conditioner showed no differences in dry matter intake, however, dry matter digestibility for the macerated hay was higher.