Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T06:39:13.306Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The influence of supplements of energy and protein on the intake and performance of cattle fed on cereal straws

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. P. Andrews ,
J. Escuder-Volonte ,
M. K. Curran  and
W. Holmes
R. P. Andrews
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent
J. Escuder-Volonte
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent
M. K. Curran
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent
W. Holmes
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent
Get access

Summary

In two experiments the effects of several levels of supplementary energy and of protein on the voluntary intake of long straw by young cattle of 200 to 300 kg weight were studied.

In Experiment 1, 40 cattle were used to compare 4 protein levels and 5 energy levels. At the lowest protein level (diets containing 6·6% crude protein or less) intake of straw was low at all energy levels and the live-weight gain of the cattle was not increased by the energy supplements. There was no difference in performance between the other 3 protein levels, which gave whole diets containing 8·8% crude protein or more in the dry matter. Supplements of 5 to 9 g concentrates per kg live weight reduced straw intake only a little, and increased gains.

In Experiment 2, 40 cattle were used to compare barley and oat straw alone and with 2 levels of protein and 2 levels of energy supplement; one of the latter was higher, 12 g concentrate per kg live weight, than any in Experiment 1. The digestibility of the diets was determined. The results showed no difference in animal performance between oat and barley straw and agreed in general with Experiment 1. The low-protein, high-energy combination (6·4% crude protein in the whole diet) was frequently refused and gains on this treatment were low; at the higher protein level, when protein supply was adequate, straw intakes were less than on the lower energy level with adequate protein. Long straw could supply 35 to 45% of the daily energy requirements of young growing cattle.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , October 1972 , pp. 167 - 176
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1972

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Agricultural Research Council. 1965. The Nutrient Requirements of Farm Livestock. No. 2, Ruminants. Agricultural Research Council, London.Google Scholar
Britton, D. K. 1969. Cereals in the United Kingdom. Production, Marketing and Utilisation. Pergamon Press, London.Google Scholar
Crampton, E. W. and Maynard, L. A. 1938. The relation of cellulose and lignin to the nutritive value of animal feeds. J. Nutr. 15: 383–395.Google Scholar
Elliott, R. C. 1967. Voluntary intake of low protein diets by ruminants. I. Intake of food by cattle. J. agric. Set, Camb. 69: 375–382.Google Scholar
Escuder-Volonte, J. C. 1970. Some aspects of the nutrition of beef cattle. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. London.Google Scholar
Evans, R. E. 1960. Rations for livestock. Bull. Minist. Agric. Fish Fd, Lond., No. 48.Google Scholar
Forbes, T. J., Raven, A. M. and Irwin, J. H. D. 1969. The use of coarsely milled barley straw in finishing diets for young beef cattle. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 73: 365–372.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Franklin, M. C., Briggs, P. K. and McClymont, G. K. 1955. The utilization of low quality pasture. J. Aust. Inst. agric. Sci. 21: 216–228.Google Scholar
Lyons, T., Caffrey, P. J. and O'Connell, W. J. 1970. The effect of energy, protein and vitamin supplementation on the performance and voluntary intake of barley straw by cattle. Anim. Prod. 12: 323–334.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 1968. Profitable farm enterprises. Booklet 1. Rearing Friesian dairy heifers. Minist. Agric. Fish Fd, Lond.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 1971. Two-year Beef Production. Minist. Agric. Fish Fd, Reading.Google Scholar
Raleigh, R. J. and Wallace, J. D. 1963. Effect of urea at different nitrogen levels on digestibility and performance of growing steers fed low quality flood meadow roughage. J. Anim. Sci. 22: 330–334.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raven, A. M., Forbes, T. J. and Irwin, J. H. D. 1969. The utilisation by beef cattle of concentrate diets containing different levels of milled barley straw and of protein. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 73: 355–363.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, C. A. 1962. The utilisation of Hyparrhenia veld for the nutrition of cattle in the dry season. 3. Studies on the digestibility of the produce of mature veld hay and the effect of feeding supplementary protein and urea. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 58: 173–178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Swan, H. and Lamming, G. E. 1970. Studies on the nutrition of ruminants. 5. The effects of diets containing up to 70% ground barley straw on the live-weight gain and carcass composition of yearling Friesian cattle. Anim. Prod. 12: 63–70.Google Scholar
Yates, F. 1936. Incomplete Latin squares. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 26: 301–315.Google Scholar