Summer annual silages and hay for growing steers

Abstract

Sudangrass, pearl millet, sorghum-sudangrass, and forage sorghum silages and sorghum-sudan hay were full-fed to yearling steers in a 90-day trial. Forage sorghum was harvested in the dough stage; the other four forages, in the late-vegetative stage. Steers consumed an average of 12.5% more hay than silage the first 42 days; hay feeding was discontinued then for lack of supply. At 90 days, steers fed forage sorghum silage out-performed those fed the other three silages. Compared with forage sorghum, the other silages had relative feeding values (based on rate and efficiency of gains) of 75% for sudangrass , 62% for pearl millet, and 68% for sorghum-sudan.