Comparing SHREDLAGE® and Conventional Silage as a Roughage Component in Steam- Flaked Corn Diets for Finishing Cattle

A study was conducted at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center feedlot evaluating SHREDLAGE® processed at 26.5 mm and 1 mm gap; by CLAAS, to conventional chopped corn silage at 13 mm with a standard CLAAS processor set to 1 mm, as a roughage source at two inclusions for cattle fed steam- flaked corn based finishing diets. Yearling steers (930 lb) were fed finishing diets containing 9 or 14% (dry matter basis) conventionally chopped corn silage or corn SHREDLAGE® in a 2 × 2 factorial treatment arrangement. Cattle fed rations containing SHREDLAGE had greater final body weight, hot carcass weight, average daily gain, and less dry matter intake, which resulted in better conversions (P \u3c 0.05) than cattle fed conventionally chopped corn silage. Feed efficiency was improved when 9% silage was fed compared to 14% silage. Feeding SHREDLAGE and reducing the amount of roughage fed resulted in improved hot carcass weight, daily gain, and efficiency compared with feeding traditional silage at 14% inclusion. These results suggest shredding silage, resulting in larger particles, can improve performance at lower inclusions compared to traditionally chopped silage