Loading...
Citations
Altmetric:
Date
2003-03-01
Collections
Files
Loading...
eopr-4584.pdf
Adobe PDF, 105.43 KB
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
Keane, M.G., Concentrate Supplements for Weanling and Finishing Steers, End of Proejct Report, Teagasc, 2002.
Abstract
Concentrates are a major cost element in feeding beef cattle in winter. Because of the
need to retain finishing cattle until after specific dates to comply with retention
periods for the draw-down of premia, feeding strategies must be flexible. The
objectives of this study were to examine concentrate feeding strategies which would
minimise concentrate feeding to weanlings and exploit compensatory growth,
simplify feeding routines and improve the efficiency of concentrate utilisation in
finishing cattle. Four experiments were carried out, two with weanlings and two with
finishing cattle.
• Weanlings fed outdoors (in sacrifice paddocks) in winter gained 13 kg more than
those similarly fed indoors but by the end of the following grazing season the
weight difference had decreased to 4 kg as a result of compensatory growth.
• There was no response to an increase in protein level in the concentrate.
• Feeding 2 kg/day of supplementary concentrates with silage in winter reduced
silage intake by 0.4 kg dry matter (DM) and increased total DM intake by 1.27
kg/day.
• The liveweight gain response in winter to 2 kg/day supplementary concentrates
was 344 g/day or a total of 44 kg. By the end of the following grazing season this
had declined to 14 kg (68% compensation)
• The conversion ratio of concentrate DM to liveweight was about 5:1 at the end of
winter but by the end of the following grazing season it was over 15 : 1.
• Feeding a fixed total concentrate allowance to weanlings gave a better response
when it was offered at a flat rate daily over the whole winter, or at a high rate over
the first half of the winter, rather than when offered at a high rate over the second
half of the winter.
• Feeding a fixed total concentrate allowance ad libitum over the final part of the
finishing period was superior to feeding it at a flat rate per day over the total
period in terms of feed energy utilization.
• There was no impairment in the efficiency of total feed energy utilization by
delaying the feeding of a fixed concentrate allowance for up to 70 days after
housing compared to feeding it immediately after housing. • Where animals are being finished over a 5-6 months period, rather than feeding
concentrates at a flat rate throughout the whole period, it is better to delay
introduction for 2-3 months and then offer concentrates ad libitum thereafter.
• As the interval from housing to concentrate introduction increases, the response to
concentrates fed ad libitum subsequently increases.
• Although not reflected in carcass fat score, objective indicators of fatness were
lower for animals fed concentrates ad libitum than for animals fed concentrates at
a flat rate with silage.