Energy Value of High-Moisture Corn in Feedlot Cattle Diets Derived through Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Summary with Implications Cattle feeders or their nutritionists who rely on high-moisture corn (HMC) use a standard adjustment to energy content of the diet based on observation or previous research reports. Because moisture content of HMC is the result of many field and harvest factors, a common adjustment to the energy value of HMC applied to all conditions may not be appropriate. The hypothesis that moisture content of HMC determines its energy concentration was tested. Through a meta-analysis, it was determined that feed intake was depressed while energy content of HMC increased at greater moisture content. A simple method to estimate the moisture contribution from HMC to the diet was derived to enhance the applicability of dietary energy prediction equations using the contribution of HMC moisture to the diet