Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
- Volume 8 Issue 3
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- Pages.281-287
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- 1995
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- 1011-2367(pISSN)
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- 1976-5517(eISSN)
DOI QR Code
PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF GRASS SILAGE WITH WHOLE-CROP CEREAL SILAGE FOR GROWING BEEF CATTLE
- Raza, S.H. (Department of Livestock Management, University of Agriculture) ;
- Rowlinson, P. (Dept. of Agriculture, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne)
- Received : 1994.10.27
- Accepted : 1995.01.21
- Published : 1995.06.01
Abstract
A study was conducted to investigate the effect of different inclusion levels of urea treated whole-crop wheat silage (UWCWS) in grass silage based rations on the performance of growing beef cattle. The winter wheat (variety, Riband) was harvested (in the summer of 1991) at a dry matter proportion of 520 g/kg and treated with feed grade urea at the rate of 37 kg/tonne crop dry matter and preserved in a heavy duty plastic bag using a silo press. The urea treated whole crop wheat silage (UWCWS) was mixed with grass silage to replace 0.00 (S100), 0.33 (S33) and 0.67 (S67) parts of the forage dry matter and fed ad libitum in a cross over design to 18 Simmental X Holstein Friesian growing beef animals. Two energy sources {one high in starch, rolled barley (RB) and one high in digestible fibre, sugar beet pulp (SBP)} were fed to supply sufficient energy for the efficient use of nitrogen by the rumen micro-organisms. The data on DMIF (dry matter intake of forage), TDMI (total dry matter intake), DLWG (daily live weight gain), FCR (feed conversion ratio) were recorded and faecal samples were collected to determine the digestibility coefficients. Results revealed that with the inclusion of UWCW in the animals' diets the DMI of the forage was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The highest DMIF was found in the treatment "S33" (