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Substitution rates in steers fed on low quality grass hays supplemented with maize grain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

F. Torres
Affiliation:
National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Balcarce Experiment Station, 7620 Balcarce, Argentina
Cristina Boelcke
Affiliation:
National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Balcarce Experiment Station, 7620 Balcarce, Argentina
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Abstract

To estimate the effect of supplementation on hay: grain substitution rates, 18 experimental rations were evaluated in digestibility trials, each using four steers (300 kg live weight) housed in metabolism stalls. Four hays (digestible dry matter = 40 to 62 %) were given to appetite, supplemented with maize grain plus urea at several different levels, up to 2·5% of animal live weight, and substitution rates were estimated as the slope of the linear regression of hay intake on grain intake. General substitution rates were independent of hay quality, and the pooled rate was 830 g (Sb = 0·036) per kg of grain dry matter. Nevertheless, the analysis of the observed partial substitution rates and those in the literature, suggests a possible interaction between the effects of hay digestibility and grain level on substitution rates.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1978

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