Effect of silage source, physically effective neutral detergent fiber, and undigested neutral detergent fiber concentrations on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing steers.

ABSTRACT: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of silage source (barley vs. wheat silage) when harvested at two chop lengths (low vs. high physically effective neutral detergent fiber [peNDF]) and when barley silage was partially replaced with straw to increase the undigested neutral detergent fiber (uNDF) concentration on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing steers. Four hundred and fifty yearling commercial crossbred steers with an initial body weight (BW) of 432 ± 30.5 kg were allocated to 30 pens and fed diets containing 90% concentrate:10% forage for 123 d in a completely randomized block design with a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement. Treatments included 1) barley silage (BarS) with low peNDF (LpeNDF); 2) BarS with high peNDF (HpeN

SUBMITTER: Pereira MCS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7859906 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature