Cupplant Silage as a Replacement for Corn Silage in Growing Beef Cattle Diets

Abstract

Forage and grain crops utilized by the livestock industry are subject to failure under some environmental conditions. The objective of this trial was to investigate the potential for cupplant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) to fill gaps in livestock feed resource chains. Dietary treatments investigated were 0, 30, and 60% cupplant silage replacing corn (Zea mays L.) silage. Increasing the inclusion level of cupplant silage from 0 to 30% and 60% resulted in a decline in average daily gain (ADG) for weaned beef calves of 12 and 44%, respectively. However, with yearling beef cattle, no differences in ADG or gain efficiency were observed as cupplant silage level increased in diets. Diet dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) intakes and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibilities were reduced with increasing levels of cupplant silage. Our results show that cupplant silage can be utilized as an alternative forage source to replace a portion of the corn silage in beef calf rations; however, it will reduce ADG.

Management, production, and nutritional characteristics of cup-plant (Silphium perfoliatum) in temperate climates of southern Chile

“…This is mainly due to the very low N level of the stems and to the lower proportion of leaves in the more advanced stages of development. These protein values are lower than reported by Albrecht and Goldstein (1997) but similar to those found by Lehmkuhler et al (2007). In our experiments, such value was probably influenced by the N fertilization rate that was used, as we observed in the next experiments, at fertilization levels greater than 200 kg N•ha -1…”

“…The two-cut regime would permit a continuous supply of forage to animals for a period of approximately five months during the summer drought (Pichard et al, 1988). The conservation of cup-plant by ensiling was suggested by Chuiko et al (1975); in more recent experiments, Lehmkuhler et al (2007) state that cup-plant silage has a nutritional value lower than corn silage, but it can be successfully incorporated as one component of the diet or be allocated to animals with lower energy requirements.…”

Strategic use of native species on environmental gradients increases diversity and biomass relative to switchgrass monocultures

“…Cup plant is a forb that tolerates mild flooding. Cup plant is highly digestible (Han et al, 2000), has long been used as forage in Asia, and has potential for use as a forage crop for cattle (Lehmkuhler et al, 1997), although its use for that purpose is uncommon in the U.S. The two legumes and cup plant are valued for providing habitat and food for pollinators.…”

Accelerating Silphium Domestication: An Opportunity to Develop New Crop Ideotypes and Breeding Strategies Informed by Multiple Disciplines

“…have been grown in Kansas and independently in Poland since the early 2000s (Kowalski and Wiercinski, 2004;Van Tassel et al, 2014), and more recently, plots have been established in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Uruguay, and Argentina. Whereas S. perfoliatum has always been considered as a potential forage or bioenergy crop (Han et al, 2000a(Han et al, , 2000bLehmkuhler et al, 2007), S. integrifolium has been considered as a potential new oilseed because its fatty acid profile is similar to the oilseed sunflower (Kowalski and Wiercinski, 2004;Van Tassel et al, 2014). However, no commercial production has been initiated, reflecting the lack of improved cultivars and the many processing and marketing difficulties faced by new crops (Raymer, 2002).…”