A limited amount of roughage in high-grain rations usually decreases the number of liver abscesses, founder and other digestive problems. Experimental work indicates that five to 10 pounds of corn silage per animal daily supplies adequate roughage in these high-grain finishing rations. Silage fed in excess of this level is often poorly used and gives little reduction in the amount of grain needed for a unit of gain with this type ration. Corn silage vs. corn grain Cost of a ton of corn silage in relation to its nutritive value for beef cattle determines whether corn silage will give cheaper gain than corn gain or other feeds. There is a limit to the amount of harvesting, storage and handling costs that corn silage can incur and remain a cheap source of nutrients.
Cattle usually gain more slowly when corn silage replaces large amounts of corn in the ration.
Slower gains mean more days to produce 100 pounds of beef. When the total cost of beef production is figured, corn silage must be charged with any non-feed costs attributed to more days in the feedlot for a unit of gain. Non-feed costs are often assessed at 10 to 15 cents a day for commercial lots. If cattle are fed to equal slaughter weights, carcass quality grades are usually similar on the two systems. When comparing corn silage with corn grain, the feed that returns the largest net income may depend upon whether income is figured on the basis of an acre of corn, a steer, or feedlot capacity.