Comparison of wheat and maize silage in winter finishing of steers

During 72 days of the winter season of 1998, twenty-four Normando steers, 20 to 21 months of age and 385 kg average liveweight, were fattened in order to evaluate animal response to feeding of whole wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) silage in comparison to maize (Zea mays L.) silage. Treatments were T1: maize silage; T2: wheat silage at milky starchy stage; and T3: wheat silage at soft or hard starchy stage. The feed was composed of a mixture of silage and concentrates in a 62.5: 37.5 ratio, respectively. The concentrates were formulated with oats (Avena sativa L.) and white lupines (Lupinus albus L.), urea and minerals in order to obtain an approximately isoproteic ration with 13% crude protein. The experimental design was a completely randomized block with 8 replicates. The feed consumption and daily liveweight gains of T3 were significantly higher (P≤0.05) than T1 and T2. Feed conversion efficiency and dressing percent were not statically different due to the treatments (P≥ 0.05). It was concluded that wheat silage, especially at the soft or hard starchy stage, can replace maize silage on rations for fattening steers without affecting weight gains