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The effects of the inclusion of maize and whole crop wheat silages in grass silage-based diets on the performance of beef cattle offered two levels of concentrate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

T.W.J. Keady
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6DR, U.K. e-mail tim.keady@dardni.gov.uk
D.J. Kilpatrick
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6DR, U.K. e-mail tim.keady@dardni.gov.uk
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Extract

Recent developments in maize breeding and in agronomic practices, particularly the development of complete cover plastic mulch, have resulted in the possibility of consistently producing high yields of high starch maize silage in Northern Ireland. Recent studies (Keady et al., 2002, 2003) at this Institute have clearly illustrated that inclusion of maize silage, varying in maturity, consistently increases the performance of lactating dairy cows. Keady et al. (2002, 2003) concluded that the inclusion of maize silage in the diet of dairy cows had a potential concentrate sparing effect of up to 3 kg/cow/day. Currently there is considerable interest from beef producers of the potential effects of the inclusion of either maize or whole crop wheat (WCW) silages on the performance of beef cattle. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of including maize and WCW silages in grass silage-based diets on food intake and animal performance of beef cattle offered two levels of concentrate.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2004

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References

Keady, T.W.J., Mayne, C.S. and Kilpatrick, D.J. (2002). Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science, p.16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keady, T.W.J., Mayne, C.S. and Kilpatrick, D.J. (2003). Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science, p.126.Google Scholar