The effects of dietary energy content and level of feeding on the growth of Israeli-Friesian intact male cattle

1974 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Levy ◽  
Z. Holzer ◽  
H. Neumark ◽  
S. Amir

SUMMARYIn an experiment with group-fed cattle from 6 months of age to slaughter at 480 kg live weight two levels of feed intake: 1, ad libitum, 2, 85% of ad libitum amount, were combined with two ratios of concentrate to hay: a, 70: 30; b, 30: 70. In two further treatments, 3a and 3b, the cattle were fed diets a or b at 70% of ad libitum from 6 to 10 months and ad libitum thereafter.Daily gain during the first 124 days of the experiment was (in grams) 1293, 983, 1097, 846, 992 and 756, and from the 125th day to slaughter 735, 600, 796, 579, 830 and 714, for treatments la, lb, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b, respectively. The decline in rate of gain from the first period to the second was inversely related to the level of feed intake and to the percentage of concentrates in the ration in the first period.Daily carcass gain was 582, 393, 532, 350, 531 and 368 g for treatments la, lb, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b, respectively.The treatments that were switched over from 70% of ad libitum feed intake in the first period to 100% in the second (3a and 3b), exhibited considerable compensatory growth in the second period, but this was not sufficient to be of economic advantage.The overall ME requirement per kg of live-weight gain was inversely related to rate of gain. Of the six treatments, 2a (85% of ad libitum, 70% concentrate) was the most efficient (19·8 Mcal/kg live-weight gain).Animals on the 100% level of feed intake throughout the experiment (treatments la, lb) were significantly fatter than those on the other treatments.

1976 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Levy ◽  
Z. Holzer ◽  
D. Ilan

SUMMARYSix groups of Israeli-Friesian intact male calves were studied over growth periods of 200 to 300 kg, 300 to 400 kg, and 400 to 500 kg live weight. Different ratios (85: 15, 70: 30 and 50: 50) of concentrate to roughage were compared. Two groups received the same ratio (85: 15 or 70: 30) throughout the experiment. In the other groups, the proportion of concentrates was progressively increased or decreased.Live-weight gain in the first period ranged from 759 to 1013 g/day, i n the second period from 1095 to 1239 g/day and in the third period from 831 to 922 g/day. Overall rate of gain was highest in the groups receiving a constant ratio, regardless of the ratio used. Increasing the proportion of concentrates as the calves became heavier, which is common practice in Europe, did not improve performance and decreasing the proportion reduced performance. Only at 200 to 300 and at 400 to 500 kg live weight did a concentrate percentage higher than 50 result in improved performance.Dry-matter intake, relative to live weight, was higher with a ratio of 70: 30 than with one of 85: 15 or of 50: 50 in each period. Animals on a constant ratio of concentrates to roughage gave the most efficient conversion of feed energy to live weight.There were no significant differences in dressing percentage or in carcass composition.


1965 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Holme ◽  
W. E. Coey ◽  
K. L. Robinson

SUMMARYThe paper reports the results of experiments to study the effects of different levels of dietary protein on the performance and carcass quality of bacon pigs fed on a high-energy diet: (a) to make similar rates of live-weight gain on all treatments, (b) to make similar rates of live-weight gain but with the level of protein on some treatments being reduced at 130 lb., (c) to allow ad libitum feed intake on all treatments, (d) to obtain two distinctpatterns of growth (fast-fast and slow-fast) on each of two levels of dietary protein.In the comparison of the two contrasting patterns of growth there was no significant interaction between rate of gain during the period 40–125 lb. live-weight and level of dietary protein. Differences in carcass density and linear measurements were significant and the results suggest that irrespective of growth pattern there was a carcass response to level of protein.Where diets of different protein content were given ad libitum or to obtain a uniform growth pattern on all treatments, growth rates were generally good, with little difference in feed intake between the treatments within each experiment; variations in level of protein therefore had little effect on growth rate. In some of the comparisons, significant carcass differences were found in terms of density, dissection data and linear measurements; in others only the density differences were significant.The results suggest that with each of the feeding systems a level of about 17% crude protein, associated with 12% fish meal, is more likely than lower levels to give lean bacon carcasses. In the one experiment in which the protein level was reduced at 130 lb. live-weight there was no marked effect on carcass composition.


1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Bartholomew ◽  
W. McLauchlan ◽  
D. M. B. Chestnutt

ABSTRACTThree experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of different forage types on the performance of male British Friesian calves up to 6 months of age. Unwilted and wilted silages were compared in all experiments, and in experiment 1 hay was also compared with the two silages. All the forages were compared at different levels of concentrate supplementation ranging, in different experiments, from none to ad libitum.Calves fed wilted silage consumed 490, 90 and 200g/kg more forage dry matter respectively than those fed unwilted silage in the three experiments but this extra intake was generally not reflected in an increased rate of gain. Hay which was of lower digestibility than silage gave significantly lower live-weight gain. Quantities of silage consumed at an early age were small, with a mean daily intake over the first five weeks of 0·13 kg dry matter. Concentrate reduced silage dry-matter intake by 0·49 kg/kg concentrate dry matter consumed. Estimated mean concentrate intake required to achieve a daily gain of 0·75 kg in 1- to 6-month-old calves with silage offered ad libitum was 0·83 kg dry matter.


1969 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Miles ◽  
R. J. K. Walters ◽  
E. M. Evans

SUMMARYA series of animal feeding trials was designed to determine differences between grasses in dry-matter intake and animal live-weight gain, with a view to indicating better selection criteria for improving the feeding value of herbage.Wide differences were demonstrated in feed intake and live-weight gain between single-variety grass feeds at similar levels of digestibility.S.37 cocksfoot gave consistently good and S.51 timothy, consistently poor responses.Supplementation of grass feeds with red clover frequently resulted in marked improvement in feed intake and animal performance.


1983 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Bryant ◽  
P. Rowlinson ◽  
H. A. M. Van der Steen

ABSTRACTNursing frequency, suckling duration and teat order were recorded in 12 ‘hybrid’ sows and their litters from parturition to weaning at day 42 post partum. Sows and their litters were moved from the farrowing quarters at day 20; half were housed as a group (G) and fed ad libitum with a boar present and the other half were housed individually (S) with no boar present and ration-fed to scale.Some differences occurred in behaviour from day 20. A significantly greater number of false nursing periods, significant synchronization of nursing periods, and a tendency for more long and short nursing intervals occurred in G than S sows and litters. The duration of the preliminary nosing phase and the total nursing period were significantly longer in S than G litters. Teat order scores, indicating consistency of piglet suckling position on the sow, tended to be greater in S than G litters, and there was a fall in the score for G litters in the weeks following grouping. This was associated with a check in live-weight gain.All G sows showed oestrus during lactation, on average 15 days after grouping. There was no incidence of lactational oestrus in the S sows which showed oestrus 5 days after weaning.


2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 3861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulysses Cecato ◽  
Josmar Almeida Junior ◽  
Fabíola Cristine de Almeida Rego ◽  
Sandra Galbeiro ◽  
Wagner Paris ◽  
...  

This study aimed to assess forage production, animal performance, and the chemical composition of Tanzania grass pasture fertilized with 50, 100, 200, and 400 kg ha-1 of nitrogen. The variables analyzed were: leaf mass, daily accumulation rate, leaf/stem ratio, average daily gain, stocking rate, live weight gain per unit of area crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and in vitro dry matter digestibility of leaves. The pasture management maintained the pasture height at 50 cm by using a continuous grazing method with the adjustment of stocking rate. The experimental design was a randomized block with three replicates. The leaf mass increased linearly in response to nitrogen, with an increase of 1003 kg (34%) observed between a nitrogen content of 50 and 400 kg ha-1. Nitrogen did not affect the average daily gain, but increased the stocking rate and live weight gain ha-1. The value of crude protein and neutral detergent fiber were higher with increased nitrogen levels, whereas the leaf digestibility did not affect nitrogen use. The comparison of 50 and 400 kg ha-1 levels indicated that there was an average increase of 19.2% in the leaf crude protein. The increased application of nitrogen fertilizer in Tanzania grass improved the chemical composition and animal performance; with regard to studied variables, the dose of 200 kg ha-1 resulted in the greatest improvement.


1977 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Öster ◽  
S. Thomke ◽  
H. Gyllang

SUMMARYYoung, uncastrated male cattle (initial weight 80 kg, final weight 240 kg) were used to evaluate brewers' dried grains as a protein source (17 or 36% of the concentrate mixture), in comparison with soyabean oil meal (6% of the concentrate mixture). There were no significant effects on feed intake or average daily live-weight gain. The killing-out percentages for the three treatments were 49·2; 48·6 and 46·9 respectively (P < 0·001). There was a lower fat deposition (P < 0·01) in animals receiving the higher level of brewers' dried grains, and the degree of rumen parakeratosis was less (P < 0·001) with the diets containing grains.


1973 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. D. Penning ◽  
K. M. Cottrell ◽  
T. T. Treacher

SUMMARYTwenty-seven groups of Finnish Landrace × Dorset Horn lambs, each of two males and two females, were offered daily quantities of 180, 248 or 343 g milk substitute dry matter (DM) for 21, 29 or 40 days. The environmental temperature was 18°C during the first 21 days of rearing, and concentrate pellets and clean water were always available. From 22 to 48 days of age the lambs were offered 150 g of hay per week.For lambs offered 180 g milk substitute DM, increasing the number of days before weaning increased the daily live-weight gain over the 47-day experimental period. For daily allowances of 248 and 343 g of milk substitute, greater gains were effected only by delaying weaning from 21 to 29 days.Increasing the daily allowance of milk substitute DM had little effect on the daily gain of lambs weaned after 21 days but increased gain by lambs weaned at 29 days. For lambs weaned after 40 days growth rate was increased only by the first increment of milk substitute DM. Intake of solid food began when the lambs were 3 weeks old and total intake of concentrates was inversely related to total quantity of milk substitute DM consumed and in general was less when weaning was later.The overall efficiency of conversion of total DM consumed to live weight was positively related to total milk substitute DM consumed and tended to be greatest when weaning was later. A daily allowance of 180 g milk substitute DM for 21 days gave the lowest food cost per unit of live-weight gain.The incidence of navel sucking is discussed.


1980 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Aston ◽  
J. C. Tayler

ABSTRACT1. Experiment 1. Six treatment groups of one British Friesian and four South Devon × British Friesian bulls, initially 432 kg mean live weight and aged 491 days, were offered individually maize or grass silage ad libitum plus 0, 5 or 10g barley dry matter per kg live weight daily for 80 days. The silages had similar digestible dry matter and estimated metabolizable energy contents but the grass silage contained more ammonia and acetic, propionic and butyric acids. Mean values for groups receiving respectively maize and grass silage diets were for dry-matter intake 17·7, 20·3, 20·4 and 13·0, 16·6, 18·7 g/kg live weight and for live-weight gain 1·00, 1·32, 1·46 and 0·65, 0·98, 1·22kg/day. Significantly more maize than grass silage dry matter was eaten when the silages were given alone and dry-matter intakes, live-weight and carcass gains were greater for maize silage diets. Dry-matter intake, live-weight and carcass gains, efficiency of feed use and carcass quality significantly improved when barley was given.2. Experiment 2. Six groups of five British Friesian bulls, initially 418 kg mean live weight and aged 474 days, were offered individually maize silage ad libitum with either urea or one of two quantities of aqueous ammonia mixed in at the time of feeding, plus 0 or 5 g barley dry matter per kg live weight daily for 90 days. The urea and ammonia-treated silages contained 125, 124 and 148 g crude protein per kg dry matter respectively, with pH values of 3·8, 3·9 and 4·3, and when given alone or with barley mean daily intakes (g dry matter per kg live weight) were 17·1, 18·6 for urea-treated silage diets, and 17·8, 18·8 and 16·9, 19·1 respectively for ammoniatreated silage diets. Live-weight gains were 0·69, 0·94, 0·63, 1·09, 0·64 and 1·07 kg/day. Ammonia treatment had no effect on intake or live-weight gain. Live-weight and carcass gains and carcass quality improved when barley was given.3. The maize silage offered in Experiment 1 contained similar metabolizable energy but more starch than that in Experiment 2 and was used more efficiently for live-weight gain.


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