Livestock Notes |
Beef Urea and Mineral
Additives for Corn Silage
by John W. Comerford
Com silage is a popular and
effective feed for both feedlot
steers and for wintering cows and
calves. However, com silage is
deficient in protein, calcium, and
phosphorus for most classes of
beef cattle.
Table 1. Deficiency of Protein, Calcium and Phosphorus in Corn
Silage.
Com silage
Daily requirements:
Growing steer (500 lbs.)
Finishing steer (800 lbs.)
Lactating Cow
’CP « crude protein; Ca « Calcium; P » Phosphorus
• Winter’s frozen ground conditions
reduce soil compaction
Hi-Calclum
rim
LIMESTONE
One way to correct the inadequ
acy of com silage for these nutri
ents and to improve fermentation
is to add urea and minerals at the
time the silage goes into the silo.
Adding urea, limestone, or a com
bination has been shown to
increase the production of organic
acids in the silage. Of particular
importance is the increased pro-
Profit from winter
lime application
Hi-Magneslum
duction of lactic acid during
fermentation.
Dry urea usually has 45% nitro
gen which is equivalent to 281%
crude protein for a ruminant. By
adding 10 lbs. of urea to one ton of
com silage that is 30% dry matter
and 8% crude protein, the protein
content of the silage will increase
to 12.7% crude protein. This may
be both an effective and economi
cal way to provide supplemental
protein to most classes of beef
cattle since there will be no further
cost for either protein supplements
or for the labor and equipment to
provide the supplement.
Additionally, adding urea at
ensiling time may be more effec
tive than adding it to the silage at
the time of feeding. Research at
Ohio State and Illinois has shown
a slight advantage in performance
for cattle on urea-treated silage
compared to when urea was added
as a supplement at feeding. It is
important to note that calves under
four months of age ate unable to
use the urea as protein until their
rumen is more fully developed.
CP 1 Ca’ P’
% % %
8.1 .27 .20
12.2 .31 .25
1.1 .38 .29
9.3 .28 .22
For prompt delivery contact
your local Martin Limestone
dealer or call Blue s*ll, Pa,
(800) 233-0205
(717) 354-1370
Other important steps in using
urea and mineral-treated silage
include:
• Get a feed sample of the sil
age analyzed after the material has
fermented to be sure rations are
balanced correctly.
• Use additional sulfur in
rations where urea is the primary
protein source.
• Use untreated silage or hay to
start stressed calves in a feedlot.
• Add the prescribed amounts
of urea and minerals to the silage
because these materials can
Table 2. Urea-Mineral Mixes for Silage
Item
Urea (45% nitrogen)
Dicalcium phosphate
Sodium sulfate
Trace-mineral salt
Table 3. Amount of Urea-Mineral Mix to Use Based on Silage Dry
Matter
% of Dry Matter
In Silage
30
32
34
36
38
40
It is important to get the urea
mineral mix spread evenly
through the silage. Poor mixing
can result in caking and bridging
of the silage, poor animal perfor
mance, and possible toxicity prob
lems. To insure proper
application:
• Be sure you know the dry
matter content of the silage.
• Get a good approximation of
the weight of silage in a load so
the proper amount of mix can be
added.
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become toxic to animals when fed
at levels which are too high.
Silage Dry Matter
It is essential to know the dry
matter value of the silage before
attempting to mix urea and miner
als with it In genera), urea can be
added to silage that is between
30% and 40% dry matter. When
the silage is too wet, the urea may
escape as seepage. When it is too
dry, the urea may be lost as
ammonia and make the silage
unpalatable.
• Mix the urea and minerals
together well before applying
them to the silage.
• Meter the mix through the
blower for upright silos, or pour it
over the top of the load anjl allow
the blower to mix it.
• Meter the mix into the chop
per or spread over the lop of a load
before dumping for a trench or
bunker silo. Spreading it over the
top of the stack will result in a
poor mix.
Water Quality
An IMPORTANT
ingredient in
lock Management
Martin Water
Conditioning Co.
SPECIALISTS IN FARM WATER TREATMENT
Willis Sharp 740 E. Lincoln Ave.
Somerset, PA ft Myerslown, PA 17067
Surrounding Counties (717) 866-7555
(814)-893-5081 Along Rte. 422
% of Mix
58.0
18.0
8.0
16.0
Pounds of Mix per
Ton of Wet Silage
17
18.1
19.3
20.4
21.5
22.7