Evaluation of Corn Silage Hybrids with the Brown Midrib Trait and Silage Inclusion for Finishing Cattle

A finishing study evaluated three corn silage hybrids fed at either 15 or 45% of diet DM for finishing steers. The three hybrids were a standard corn silage hybrid which served as the control, a brown midrib hybrid and an experimental brown midrib hybrid with a softer endosperm. An interaction was observed between hybrid and silage inclusion. Gain and HCW were greater for steers fed the experimental brown midrib compared to other two hybrids when fed at 15%. Feeding brown midrib hybrids at 45% of the diet DM resulted in greater ADG and HCW when compared to a control corn silage without the brown midrib trait. Feeding brown midrib varieties of corn silage at 45% of the diet DM improved feedlot performance and carcass characteristics compared to control corn silage