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.
Citation
Suwarno; Wittenberg, K M.; and McCaughey, W P., "Intake, Digestion and Performance Comparisons for Cattle Fed Macerated vs. Roller-Conditioned Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Forage" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 5.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session14/5
Included in
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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.
