Performance, carcass composition and energy retention of lambs offered two contrasting grass-based forages

1999 ◽  
Vol 132 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. KIRKPATRICK ◽  
R. W. J. STEEN
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Lower Protein ◽  
Energy Retention ◽  
Forage Type ◽  
Acetic Acids

An experiment was carried out in Northern Ireland in 1994 to examine the effects of ensiling grass on the partitioning of nutrients between lean and fat deposition in lambs using the comparative slaughter technique. The six treatments consisted of: (1) unsupplemented grass silage; (2) grass silage supplemented with concentrates, concentrates constituting 250 g/kg total dry matter intake (DMI); (3) grass silage supplemented with concentrates, concentrates constituting 500 g/kg total DMI; (4) unsupplemented grass which had been conserved by freezing; (5) pre-frozen grass supplemented with concentrates, concentrates constituting 250 g/kg total DMI, and (6) pre-frozen grass supplemented with concentrates, concentrates constituting 500 g/kg total DMI. A total of 84 Dutch Texel×Greyface (Border Leicester×Blackface) lambs, consisting of 42 males which were initially 35 (s.d. 4·8) kg liveweight and 42 females which were 33 (S.D. 2·6) kg liveweight, were used. The silage was well preserved as indicated by its low pH (3·8), low concentration of ammonia (60 g/kg total nitrogen) and high concentration of lactic acid (129 g/kg DM). The grass had a higher pH (5·2) and higher WSC concentration (129 g/kg DM) and lower concentrations of lactic (33 g/kg DM) and acetic acids (6 g/kg DM). Ensiling had no significant effect (P>0·05) on empty body and carcass weight gains. Animals offered unsupplemented silage had significantly lower protein (P<0·001) concentration in the carcass gain and significantly higher lipid and energy (P<0·001) concentrations than animals offered unsupplemented frozen grass. However, there was no effect of forage type on chemical composition of carcass gains when 50% forage was offered. It is concluded that ensiling had no effect on empty body or carcass weight gains, but did increase carcass fatness when unsupplemented forages were offered.

scholarly journals Performance of Hereford bulls offered diets based on whole crop silages with or without protein inclusion

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (s1) ◽  
pp. s10-s14
Author(s):  
M. Pesonen ◽  
E. Joki-Tokola ◽  
A. Huuskonen
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rapeseed Meal ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Forage Type ◽  
Carcass Conformation ◽  
Fat Score ◽  
Barley Silage ◽  
Dough Stage

An experiment with 30 Hereford growing bulls was designed to study the effects of (1) forage type and (2) inclusion of rapeseed meal (RSM) in the barley-based concentrate. The three forage types were grass silage (GS), whole crop barley silage harvested at the milk stage (BSM) or at the dough stage (BSD). The concentrate used was rolled barley alone or barley plus RSM. Mean total dry matter (DM) intakes for the GS, BSM and BSD bulls were 9.04, 8.74 and 9.46 kg/day, and carcass gains were 883, 770 and 867 g/day, respectively. Both DM intake and carcass gain were significantly higher in the BSD bulls compared with the BSM bulls. Mean carcass weights of the GS, BSM and BSD bulls were 395, 369 and 392 kg, respectively, and tended to be lower in the BSM bulls. Forage type and RSM had no effects on the carcass conformation or fat score. Rapeseed meal supplementation increased total DM intake (+10%, P<0.01), carcass gain (+14%, P<0.001) and carcass weight (+8%, P<0.01) of the bulls. Overall, GS could be totally replaced by whole crop barley silage in the diet of growing bulls when the concentrate constitutes 0.4 of the diet, but whole crop barley silage should be harvested at the dough stage instead of the milk stage.

Further studies on the fattening value of grass silage and on the effect of the dry-matter percentage of the diet on dry-matter intake in ruminants

1954 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. Dodsworth
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
The Other ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Feeding Trial ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Weight Gains

1. A feeding trial is described including four groups of cattle fed on silage only, two mixtures of silage and roots, and roots, straw, hay and oats.2. The live-weight gains made are recorded together with the rate of dry-matter intake.3. The efficiency of the dry matter of the diets was calculated.4. Silage fed alone produced a significantly greater rate of fattening than the other three diets.5. Cattle receiving roots in the morning and silage at night consumed 10·78% more dry matter and made greater live-weight gains than cattle fed on silage in the morning and roots at night.6. Calculation of the starch values of the roots and silage showed that these are higher when fed together than when silage is fed alone or when roots are fed with straw, hay and oats.7. An experiment is described designed to determine the effect of the dry-matter percentage of the diet on dry-matter intake in ruminants and of sudden changes in dry-matter content on digestibility.8. Sheep receiving 19·46% dry-matter silage consumed 16·7% more dry matter and 19·8% more starch equivalent than sheep eating 15·85% dry-matter silage.9. When the dry-matter percentage of the silage fell from 19·46 to 15·77 the digestibility of the dry matter fell by over 10%.10. The starch equivalent of the silage when fed alone was determined from the results of a digestibility trial and according to the performance of the cattle in the feeding trial. The values found were 65·88 and 66·15% respectively.11. The losses suffered in silage-making in twentyfive silos are recorded and discussed. The loss of dry matter and crude protein both average approximately 40% of that ensiled. The need for finding methods of reducing these losses is again stressed.

The effect of forage type and host animal diet on the in situ rumen degradation of grass silage and pea/wheat bi-crops containing different pea varieties

2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. 87-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.B. Salawu ◽  
A.T. Adesogan ◽  
R.J. Dewhurst
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Microbial Protein ◽  
Host Animal ◽  
N Retention ◽  
Rumen Degradation ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Forage Type ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
Animal Diet

Compared to grass silage, pea/wheat bi-crops produce higher dry matter (DM) yields, higher feed intakes and nitrogen (N) retention (Adesogan et al., 2000). The improved performance of animals fed bi-crops may be due to a postulated synchronous supply of readily fermentable energy and protein for ruminal microbial protein synthesis. This study attempted to validate this theory by measuring the rumen degradability of grass silages and pea/wheat bi-crop silages containing different pea varieties. To determine if grass silage-fed animals could be used to determine the degradability of bi-crops, the effect of host animal diet on rumen degradation was also examined.

Growth and carcass characteristics of weaned single-suckled calves slaughtered on achieving slaughter condition or 8 or 16 weeks later

1976 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Broadbent
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Longissimus Dorsi ◽  
Fat Percentage ◽  
Distiller's Grains ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Beef Producers ◽  
Wet Distiller's Grains

SUMMARY1. Weaned single-suckled calves (castrates) were housed at 260·7 kg live weight. Six genotypes, all two- or three-way crossbreds, were represented. A diet of bruised barley, wet distiller's grains, swedes and grass silage was offered until the required minimum live weight (363 kg) and body composition was reached. The cattle were then slaughtered (treatment A), or retained for 8 (treatment B) or 16 weeks (treatment C). During the period when treatment B and C animals were retained their diet was 53% bruised barley and 47% wet distiller's grains offered ad libitum.2. Live weights at slaughter were 418·2, 458·6 and 496·1 kg (P < 0·001), carcass weights 240·5, 266·2 and 295·7 kg (P < 0·001), and killing-out percentages 57·5, 58·1 and 59·6 (P<0·01) for treatments A, B and C respectively. Daily live-weight gain did not decline during the 8 or 16 weeks cattle were retained on treatments B and C.3. Retaining the cattle to slaughter points B and C caused increases in the percentage of low-value joints in the carcass, carcass fat percentage, dry matter and fat contents of the dissected m. longissimus dorsi; and decreases in the percentage of high-value joints, carcass lean and bone percentage, crude protein and ash contents of m. longissimus dorsi. The carcass composition was 55·6, 53·5 and 51·4% lean (P<0·001); 30·7, 33·3 and 36·2% fat (P<0·001); 13·7, 13·2 and 12·4% bone (P< 0·001) for treatments A, B and C respectively.4. The results are discussed in relation to the choice made by beef producers between slaughter and retention of cattle which have reached suitable live weight and condition for marketing.

Responses in the growth of body components of finishing lambs to additional metabolizable energy supplied from either grass silage or concentrates

1998 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 503-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. J. Steen ◽  
S. D. Johnston ◽  
D. J. Kilpatrick ◽  
D. M. B. Chestnutt
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Energy Retention ◽  
Bean Meal ◽  
Body Components ◽  
Soya Bean Meal

AbstractTwo experiments involving 213 finishing lambs were carried out to examine the responses in growth rate and carcass composition to the addition ofmetabolizable energy (ME) to a mixed diet in theform ofeither grass silage concentrate. In the second experiment the performance of lambs offered silage only was also compared at equal intake with the performance of lambs given mixed diets. On average the silages contained 224 g dry matter (DM) per kg; 148 g crude protein (CP) per kg DM; 86 g ammonia-nitrogen per kg total nitrogen and 723 g digestible organic matter per kg DM. Concentrates were based on barley and soya-bean meal and contained 181 g CP per DM. Responses in carcass weight gain when additional ME was added to mixed silagelconcentrate diets in theform ofgrass silage and concentrates were 9·2 and 10·2 (s.e. 0·90) gIM] respectively in experiment 1 and 9·8 and 10-(s.e. 0·33) g/MJ respectively in experiment 2, and responses in energy retention in experiment 2 were 0·34 and 0-(s.e. 0·012) MJ/M] respectively. However carcass gain and energy retention sustained by a silage only diet were only 0·67 and 0·70 respectively of those sustained by a high-concentrate diet at the same ME intake. The diet did not significantly affect body or carcass composition.

scholarly journals The effect of fishmeal supplementation of a straw-based diet on growth and calorimetric efficiency of growth in heifers

1990 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 639-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Ortigues ◽  
T. Smith ◽  
M. Gill ◽  
S. B. Cammell ◽  
N. W. Yarrow
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Retention ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Dairy Heifers ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
Energy Retention

Thirty-two 160 kg dairy heifers were used to measure the effects of increasing dietary protein content on growth and heat production. A basal diet containing (g/kg) 550 sodium hydroxide-treated straw, 220 barley, 220 sugarbeet pulp and 10 urea was offered with 0, 76 and 152 g fishmeal/kg dry matter of the basal diet (F0, F1 and F2 levels respectively). The three diets were each given at two levels of feeding (low, L; high, H): 57.6 g/d per kg metabolic body-weight (W0.75) for the LF0 diet and 74.7 g/d per kg W0.75 for the HFO diet. Apparent digestibility of the diets increased in response to the addition of fishmeal. Mean dry matter digestibility values were 0.67, 0.67, 0.69, 0.66, 0.68 and 0.69 and those for acid-detergent fibre digestibility were 0.60, 0.63, 0.66, 0.58, 0.60 and 0.65 for diets LF0, LF1, LF2, HF0, HF1 and HF2 respectively. Nitrogen retention increased in response to both fishmeal and feeding level. Live-weight gains were 170, 296, 434 g/d for the LF0, LF1 and LF2 diets and 468, 651 and 710 g/d for the HF0, HF1 and HF2 diets respectively. There were significant effects of increasing the plane of feeding and the level of fishmeal in the diet on live-weight gain. Dietary effects on live-weight gains were accompanied by increases in mean energy retention of 23, 45, 82, 94, 160 and 152 kJ/d per kg W0.75 for diets LF0, LF1, LF2, HF0, HF1 and HF2 respectively, but no definite evidence was obtained that dietary supplementation with fishmeal modified the efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy for growth.

PERFORMANCE AND ENERGY METABOLISM OF STEERS FED A CONCENTRATE OR ROUGHAGE DIET IN CONVENTIONAL, SEMI-ENCLOSED SLATTED AND ENCLOSED SLATTED FLOOR FEEDLOTS IN SUMMER

1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 683-695
Author(s):  
W. S. ALHASSAN ◽  
J. G. BUCHANAN-SMITH ◽  
T. D. BURGESS ◽  
G. C. SMITH ◽  
G. C. ASHTON
Keyword(s):  
Energy Metabolism ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Housing Unit ◽  
High Moisture ◽  
Energy Retention ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Conventional Unit ◽  
Housing Units

One hundred and forty-four steers of predominantly Angus breeding were used to compare the effects of three housing units (conventional semi-enclosed manure pack, semi-enclosed slatted floor and enclosed–insulated slatted floor) and two diets (high moisture corn and corn silage) on the performance, energy metabolism and carcass composition of steers finished for 88 days in the summer. No diet × housing unit interaction on response criteria was observed. The mean temperature in the enclosed unit (24.6 C) was more than 3 C greater than in other units. Mean relative humidities in each slatted floor unit were 74% whereas it was 70% in the conventional unit. The enclosed–insulated unit may have been insufficiently ventilated. Steers in this unit ate less (P 0.05) dry matter per day (6.78 kg) than those in the semi-enclosed slatted floor unit (7.64 kg) and in the conventional unit (7.66 kg). Different effects of housing unit on gain reflected differences in feed intake. Carcass characteristics of cattle from each housing unit were similar (P 0.05). Efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy (ME) for maintenance and gain expressed as energy retention (ER) adjusted to equal ME intake was greater (P 0.05) for cattle in the semi-enclosed slatted floor unit (5.17 Mcal/day) than in the insulated–enclosed unit (4.36 Mcal/day). ER adjusted to equal ME intake for steers in the conventional unit was 4.76 Mcals/day. Serum tetra-iodothyronine (T4) levels were similar (P 0.05) for cattle in all housing units, but were depressed in all cattle during a period of the warmest weather. Corn-fed steers ate significantly less dry matter and had significantly greater gain and feed efficiency than silage-fed steers. Backfat thickness was greater (P 0.05) for corn-fed versus silage-fed steers but this difference disappeared when values were adjusted to equal carcass weight.

The effect of avoparcin and monensin on the performance of growing and finishing cattle offered grass silage-based diets

1985 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. F. Unsworth ◽  
I. I. McCullough ◽  
T. A. McCullough ◽  
D. G. O'Neill ◽  
R. W. J. Steen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Finishing Cattle ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Additive Treatment

ABSTRACTThe effect on animal performance of the inclusion in the diet of avoparcin at one or more of the following levels 0, 150, 300 and 450 mg per head daily and 200 mg per head daily monensin was studied i n a series of four trials. Finishing cattle of 428 (s.e. 3·9) kg live weight were used in three trials and yearling heifers (218 (s.e. 4·9) kg live weight) in the fourth. All animals received grass silage ad libitum with 0·5 to 6·0 kg per head daily of a cereal-based supplement. Relative to the control diets with no additive, proportionate increases in live-weight gain of between 0·07 and 0·38 were obtained with the inclusion of avoparcin at 150 mg per head daily in the diet with a small depression in silage dry-matter intake. The effects at higher levels of inclusion of avoparcin and of monensin were more variable. Alteration in the proportion of propionate to acetate in the rumen fluid of the animals was observed only at the highest levels of additive inclusion. There was no effect of additive treatment on carcass weight or dressing proportion.

The effects of the ratio of silage to concentrates in the diet on the performance and carcass composition of continental bulls

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 42-42
Author(s):  
D.C. Patterson ◽  
R.W.J. Steen ◽  
C.A. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Lean Tissue ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Genetic Potential ◽  
Total Diet ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Block Arrangement

Continental bulls of high genetic potential for lean tissue growth (½ Blonde d’Aquitaine ⅜ Charolais genotype) have exhibited high rates of liveweight and carcass gain when grass silage based diets were offered with a moderate proportion of concentrates, i.e. concentrates comprising 0.40 of total dry matter intake (Patterson et al., 1994). It was the objective of the present experiment to examine the effect of forage to concentrate ratio in the diet on growth rate and carcass composition.The experiment was a five treatment continuous design randomised block arrangement with five concentrate ratios in the total diet (DM basis) namely: 0.25, 0.40, 0.55, 0.68 and 0.75 and grass silage (D value 730 g/kg) as the sole forage. The diets were fed ad libitum. A total of 45 continental bulls (½ Blonde d’Aquitaine ⅜ Charolais) were used with mean initial and final live weights of 467 and 651 kg respectively.

scholarly journals Performance and digestibility of confined lambs fed with Babassu cake (Orbignya speciosa) as a substitute for elephant grass silage

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 977-982
Author(s):  
J.B. Luz ◽  
D.I. Gomes ◽  
E.R. Santos Neta ◽  
R. Mezzomo ◽  
L.R.S. Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Elephant Grass ◽  
Ether Extract ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Babassu Cake

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the partial replacement of elephant grass silage with babassu (Orbignya speciosa) on the performance, intake, digestibility, and carcass weight gain of sheep. Fifty-four castrated male lambs (19.08±2.76kg) were distributed in a completely randomized design and administered one of the following treatments: 0.0, 12.5, 25.0, 37.5 or 50% dry matter (%DM) replacement of elephant grass silage with babassu cake. No difference (P> 0.05) was observed in the dry matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber intake, but the ether extract intake increased (P< 0.05). The digestibility of the dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrients were unaffected. The crude protein digestibility decreased (P< 0.05), and the ether extract digestibility increased with the replacement of the elephant grass. There were no changes in mean daily weight gain and carcass weight gain. In the carcasses, a linear increase was observed in the proportion of the ether extract, and the crude protein decreased. The replacement of the silage with the babassu cake by up to 50% did not change the performance of sheep, however it led to an increase in fat deposit in the carcass.

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