Mineral content of feeds grown at various Kansas locations

Earlier experiments have shown that cattle may perform differently at different Kansas locations. Feeds from four locations (Manhattan, Mound Valley, Colby, and Garden City) were analyzed for several minerals to see if mineral differences might be responsible. Table 4 shows the results for alfalfa hay. Samples were taken at random and no attempt was made to choose particular varieties. Data for FS 1a sorghum silage is shown in table 5. Table 6 shows mineral analyses for two sorghum grain varieties, and one mixed sample (varieties unknown) taken at each location. The K.S.U. agronomy department carries out annual tests on eleven varieties of forage sorghum at four locations (Garden City, Manhattan, Mound Valley, and Colby). The results are in table 7

High protein sorghum grain with no added protein in all concentrate cattle finishing rations; Urea and soybean oil meal in all concentrate rations

Trials at several research centers as well as in Kansas (Bulletin 483, page 32) have shown roughage may be satisfactorily omitted from finishing rations for cattle and doing so, often reduces feed required per pound of gain. That has made it feasible to try to finish cattle on all grain diet5, when the grain has sufficient protein, and to omit other protein sources as well as roughage. Other research on this subject is reported in Kansas Bulletins 493 and 507 and on page in this bulletin

Silage Management: important practices often overlooked

Four important silage management practices that are in the control of livestock producers and that are sometimes poorly implemented or overlooked entirely include: inoculating, packing, sealing, and managing the feedout face.; Dairy Day, 2000, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2000

Rate and extent of losses from top spoilage in alfalfa silages stored in bunker silos

Alfalfa silages were made in pilot- and farm-scale silos, and five sealing treatments were compared. After 90 days, sealing dramatically reduced dry matter (DM) losses at the 5 and 10 inch depths in the farm silos and at the 0 to 12, 12 to 24, and 24 to 36 inch depths in the pilot silos. Extending the storage period to 180 days in pilot silos had no effect on DM losses for sealed or delay-sealed silages, but DM losses for unsealed silages continued to increase at all three depths. Placing a roof over the unsealed, farm-scale silo increased the silage DM content at all three depths, increased storage temperatures at the 10 and 20 inch depths, and reduced DM loss at the 10 inch depth compared to the unsealed silo without a roof. Rainfall was much above normal (16.8 inches during the first 90 days of storage; 11.2 inches the second 90 days) and contributed to huge increases in the moisture content of silage at the lower depths in the unsealed, no roof, pilot- and farm-scale silos. Sealing also increased the nutritive value of the silages at the 5 and 10 inch depths.; Dairy Day, 1994, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 1994

Effects of crop species on indigenous microflora and of silage additives on the microbial succession during the ensiling process

This study considered the effects of crop species (alfalfa vs. corn) and silage additives on six categories of indigenous microorganisms (those naturally occurring on the crop) important to silage fermentation, and on the microbial succession during the ensiling process. The numbers of streptococci, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts and molds, lactate-using yeasts, and carbohydrate- fermenting clostridial spores were higher on corn than on alfalfa. The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) comprised less than 2% of the total microbial populations on both crops. Alfalfa treated with Biomate® inoculant and the combination of dextrose and Biomate showed higher LAB counts than the control and dextrose treatments at 1 day post-ensiling. Adding dextrose accelerated multiplication of LAB in the ensiled alfalfa. Adding 1174® inoculant to corn silages did not affect the microbial succession during the ensiling process. Development of Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts and molds, lactate-using yeasts, and clostridia on either crop during ensiling was not influenced by the additives

Sorghum grain, urea or soybean meal as a protein source in all-concentrate cattle finishing rations

Results of previous similar research have been reported in Kansas Agicu1tural Experiment Station Bulletins 483, 493, 507, and 518. Trials at several research centers and here have shown that roughage may be satisfactorily omitted from finishing rations for cattle often, reducing feed required per pound of gain. Cattle nay be finished on all-grain diets with only mineral and vitamin supplements when the grain has sufficient protein

Losses from top spoilage in horizontal silos

The top 3 ft of silage from 127 horizontal silos was sampled at three locations across the width of the silo during a 4-year period (1990 through 1993). Ninety-six percent of the silages were either corn or forage sorghum, and only 18 percent of the silos were sealed with polyethylene sheeting . Losses of organic matter (OM) from spoilage were estimated by using ash content as an internal marker. Sealing silos dramatically reduced the estimated spoilage losses in the top 3 ft. All silages had greater estimated spoilage losses in the top 18 inches in 1991 and 1993 than 1990 and 1992. Sealing reduced spoilage losses of OM in the to p 18 inches by 16, 37, 19, and 36 percentage units in 1990 through 1993, respectively , and in the second 18 inches by 4, 13, 3, and 7 percentage units. Dry matter (DM) contents were lower for forage sorghum silages in the top 18 inches than for corn silages in the first 3 years, and i n all 4 years, DM contents for sealed silages were lower than those for unsealed silages. Silage had higher pH values in the top 1 8 inches than in the second 18 inches

Effect of adding fat to feedlot rations

Fat is added to commercial feedlot rations as a concentrated energy source and to reduce dustiness and wear of feed processing machinery. We added fat at varying levels ( 0 to 6% of the ration) to study effects from fat and the influence of a surface-active additive. Two hundred 700-pound steers were allotted to 40 pens of 5 each all fed 135 days on the rations show in Table 12, according to the schedule shown in Table 13

Improving silage quality

Results at Kansas State University from over 200 laboratory-scale trials and 28 farm-scale trials showed that bacterial inoculants consistently improved preservation efficiency and nutritive value of the ensiled material. In contrast, anhydrous ammonia or urea decreased dry matter recovery and production per ton of crop ensiled. Economic analysis also favored the use of bacterial inoculants over nonprotein nitrogen additives. Research conducted using corn, sorghum, and alfalfa silages showed that sealing the exposed surface dramatically reduced top spoilage losses in bunker, trench, or stack silos

Minerals in esophageal samples from steers on native bluestem pastures

This report summarizes monthly mineral contents of burned and control native bluestem pastures determined with samples from fisulated steers. Burning decreases calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and iron (Fe), and slightly decreases zinc (Zn). All minerals we studied were adequate for grazing cattle except that magnesium (Mg) and Potassium (K) appear to be borderline during winter months