Since the launch of the SHREDLAGE® process in 2015 in Europe (2010 in North America), the benefits of intensive processing by the MCC SHREDLAGE® corncracker, combined with lengths of cut from 26 to 30 mm, have won over many dairy farmers. This technology results in maize silage with a high proportion of coarse particles of the residual plant accompanied by complete, intensive cracking of the maize kernels. Used as ruminant feed, SHREDLAGE® has a more physically beneficial structure and better digestibility than conventional short-chopped maize silage. The question of whether this process can also be applied to finishing bulls with the same positive effects and additional benefits with regard to fattening performance, animal health and carcass yield has been investigated in Germany for the first time in a trial conducted on a working farm in Münster-Amelsbüren.
Feed trial lasting 243 days
The 243-day feed trial conducted by Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences (Prof. Dr. Heiner Westendarp, Prof. Dr. Hubert Korte, Laura Bunk, Kilian Fenske) investigated how feeding with SHREDLAGE® compared with conventional maize silage with regard to the feed intake, daily gain, manure quality (digestibility), rumen pH and carcass yield of finishing bulls. In addition, measurements were performed at the cut face of both types of maize silage to establish the degree of compactability and reheating.
The maize was harvested by two forage harvesting teams at the beginning of September 2019. A CLAAS JAGUAR 970, operating in throttled mode, was used to harvest the conventional maize silage with a MULTI CROP CRACKER (MCC) Classic L running with a 30% speed difference and a theoretical length of cut of 8 mm. The SHREDLAGE® was harvested by a CLAAS JAGUAR 950 with the MCC SHREDLAGE® corncracker at a 50% speed difference and a 26 mm length of cut. The chopped material was placed in a conventional clamp, the short-chopped maize silage filling one side and the SHREDLAGE® the other. Two CLAAS XERION tractors were used for spreading and compaction. The short-chopped maize silage was compacted with a total rolling weight of 18 t while the SHREDLAGE® was rolled with the higher weight of 22 t in accordance with the greater length of cut and CLAAS' recommendations.
Improved animal health and monetary benefits
Following an ensiling period of 11 weeks, the silage began to be fed to 72 Fleckvieh bulls. These had an average live weight of 382 kg at the beginning of the trial. The bulls were divided into two groups: the trial group received a TMR (total mixed ration) with SHREDLAGE® without straw while the control group was fed a TMR with short-chopped maize silage and straw. The rations differed only with regard to the length of cut of the maize silage, the addition of straw and the degree of isoenergetic supplementation with triticale, rye and grain maize. The trial ration and the control ration always had comparable energy and nutrient content.
The feed intake was measured and documented daily as a group mean value. In addition, all the animals were weighed on the 64th day of the trial and again on the 176th day. The rumen pH of six animals per group was measured using rumen boluses and recorded over 150 days of the trial. Manure washing was also performed on ten occasions in order to allow conclusions to be drawn about the digestibility of the rations.
Finally, on slaughter, the carcass weight as well as the conformation grade and fat grade were established and compared. The resulting carcass revenue was compared with the feed costs for the trial and control groups. This comparison took into account an extra 1.0 € cost per tonne of forage fresh mass (FM) for the SHREDLAGE® variant to cover the equipment fitted to the CLAAS JAGUAR as well as the higher rolling weight and the greater transport capacity required.