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The use of sodium hydroxide-treated straw in rations for beef cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

N. H. Cuthbert ,
W. S. Thickett ,
P. N. Wilson  and
T. Brigstocke
N. H. Cuthbert
Affiliation:
BOCM Silcock Ltd, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 2EQ
W. S. Thickett
Affiliation:
BOCM Silcock Ltd, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 2EQ
P. N. Wilson
Affiliation:
BOCM Silcock Ltd, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 2EQ
T. Brigstocke
Affiliation:
BOCM Silcock Ltd, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 2EQ
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Abstract

Sixty-four British Friesian castrated male cattle (steers) with an average starting weight of 292 kg and an average slaughter weight of 460 kg were used to compare compound diets containing 0, 10, 20 or 30% NaOH-treated straw. A basic diet of 1·8 kg hay, 1·8 kg barley straw and sugar beet pulp, on a scale rising from 1·4 to 2·8 kg according to live weight, was given throughout the trial. Compound diets were individually offered on a scale starting at 3·8 kg rising to 5·8 kg with an average intake of 4·9 kg/day. Treatments did not differ significantly in respect of live-weight gain, which ranged from 0·94 kg/day with the control to 0·97 kg/day with the 30% NaOH-treated straw compound. The grading of the animals, based on the Meat and Livestock Classification scheme, also showed no significant difference.

A second trial with a further 64 British Friesian steers tested inclusion levels of 0, 30,45 and 60% treated straw in a compound diet. At the start of the trial, the cattle averaged 328 kg live weight and were slaughtered from 450 kg live weight. Animals were yarded in store condition and were given a combination of grass silage and compound diets according to a scale, based on live weight and a predicted performance of 1 kg live-weight gain per day. There were no significant differences between treatments in live-weight gain, which ranged from 0·97 kg on the control to 1·02 kg/day on the 45% NaOH-treated straw diet. There was some refusal on the 60% NaOH-treated straw diet in respect of twice daily allocations, with a few cattle on occasions not being able to consume the allowance in the 30 min provided. However, each feed allocation was always consumed before the next meal. There were no significant differences between treatments in respect of fat class, but cattle on the 45% treated-straw diet had statistically superior conformation compared with the control.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , October 1978 , pp. 161 - 169
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1978

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References

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