• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.387-396
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• 2003

This experiment was carried out to compare the effects of feeding commercial formula feed and rice straw separately (control) versus a total mixed ration (TMR) on productivity of Hanwoo steers in late stage of fattening and on ruminal fermentation characteristics and digestibilities. Ruminal digesta from the cannulated cattle were sampled at 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 hour after feeding. The steers fed TMR consumed 7.4kg per day and there was no difference between feeding systems. Daily weight gain was not significantly (P>0.05) between feeding systems, however, TMR group showed lower daily gain than control group. The amount of feed consumption per kg weight gain was higher in TMR group than control group (10.5kg and 9.7kg, respectively), resulting in a greater efficiency of feed utilization for gain. In the result of appearance rates of quality grade A were 33% higher for TMR group than those in control group. Appearance rates of grade 1 showed 56% and 75% when fed the control and TMR, respectively. Digestibilities of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber and gross energy for TMR treatment were significantly higher (P<0.01) than those of control. Prior to feeding (0 h) and each subsequent hour, the TMR resulted in higher rumen pH (P<0.05) when compared with control ration. The concentration of NH3-N for TMR treatment maintained at higher level up to 8hr after feeding, especially increased up to 28.2mg/$d\ell$ during 1-2 hour which was two times (P<0.05) more than control. The amount of total VFA showed same trends between feeding systems. However, the ratios of branched chained fatty acid such as iso-butyric acid and iso-valeric acid for TMR treatment were significantly(P<0.01) higher than control for 3-5hr. Results showed that TMR in these trials is effective feeding system for fattening Hanwoo steers in the respect of ruminal characteristics, total tract digestibility and productivities.