February 02, 2023

Interpretive Summary: Effects of replacing corn silage with alfalfa haylage in growing beef cattle diets on performance during the growing and finishing period

Interpretive Summary: Effects of replacing corn silage with alfalfa haylage in growing beef cattle diets on performance during the growing and finishing period

By: Federico Tarnonsky, Katherine Hochmuth, Alfredo DiCostanzo, Nicolas DiLorenzo

The potential for growing systems in beef cattle operations depends on the development of cost-effective alternatives for adding value to cattle after weaning. Alfalfa provides several ecosystem services to beef operations through greater opportunities for manure spreading, longer soil cover, pollinator habitat, and greater carbon sequestration compared to corn silage, which is the predominant mechanically harvested forage source for intensive cattle production in the United States. Increasing alfalfa haylage use in growing beef cattle diets requires understanding the effects of replacing corn silage with alfalfa haylage on ADG and feed cost of gain and carcass quality. The objective of this study was to compare the feeding value of alfalfa haylage vs. that of corn silage in growing diets while examining carry-over effects on the finishing period in terms of animal performance and carcass traits.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.