Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T16:07:22.799Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The use of coarsely milled barley straw in finishing diets for young beef cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

T. J. Forbes ,
A. M. Raven  and
J. H. D. Irwin
T. J. Forbes
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and the Queen's University of Belfast
A. M. Raven
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and the Queen's University of Belfast
J. H. D. Irwin
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and the Queen's University of Belfast
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

An experiment was carried out in which young beef cattle were given diets containing different levels of coarsely milled (1 in screen) barley straw. The proportions of straw used were 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 % and the performance of animals on these diets was compared with that of similar animals on an all concentrate diet. Each diet was given ad libitum to six animals. There was a significant linear decline in live-weight gain with increasing straw intake, the rate of decline being 0·62 ± 0·133 kg per week for each 10 % increase in the level of straw in the diet. The dry matter conversion ratio increased linearly with increasing straw intake, the rate of increase being 0·65 ± 0·186 units for each 10 % increase in straw in the diet. Dry matter intake was significantly (P < 0·001) affected by the proportion of straw in the diet. Although dry matter intake increased to a maximum at a level of 18·8% straw in the diet there was no significant increase in the intake of digestible organic matter (DOMI). There was a significant (P < 0·001) linear decline of 0·19 ± 0·04 kg DOMI with each 10% increase in straw in the diet. There was a significant linear decline in chilled carcase weight to the extent of 5·7 ± 0·096 kg for each 10% increase in straw. The killing-out percentage based on unfasted live weight declined significantly as the percentage of straw in the diet rose from 20 to 30%. However, when the killing-out percentage was calculated on the basis of live weight at slaughter less rumen contents there was no significant difference between treatments.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 73 , Issue 3 , December 1969 , pp. 365 - 372
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1969

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. London: Agricultural Research Council.Google Scholar
Blaxter, K. L. (1962). Progress in assessing the energy value of feeding stuffs for ruminants. Jl R. agric. Soc. 123, 8–21.Google Scholar
Blaxter, K. L., Clapperton, J. L. & Martin, A. K. (1966). The heat of combustion of the urine of sheep and cattle in relation to its chemical composition and to diet. Br. J. Nutr. 20, 449–60.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blaxter, K. L. & Wainman, F. W. (1964). The utilisation of the energy of different rations by sheep and cattle for maintenance and for fattening. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 63, 113–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burt, A. W. A. (1966). The nutritive value of ground and pelleted barley straw. 1. Ground and pelleted v long straw for growing Ayrshire heifers. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 66, 131–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Erwin, E. S., Marco, G. J. & Emery, E. M. (1961). Volatile fatty acid analyses of blood and rumen fluid by gas chromatography. J. Dairy Sci. 44, 1768.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Forbes, T. J., Irwin, J. H. D. & Raven, A. M. (1969). The use of coarsely chopped barley straw in high concentrate diets for beef cattle. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 73, 347–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lamming, G. E., Swan, H. & Clarke, P. T. (1966). Studies on the nutrition of ruminants. 1. Substitution of maize by milled barley straw in a beef fattening diet and its effect on performance and carcase quality. Anim. Prod. 8, 303–11.Google Scholar
MacDearmid, F. G. & Kay, M. (1968). The effects of different concentrate: roughage ratios on the growth rate and carcase composition of Friesian steers. Anim. Prod. 10, 233.Google Scholar
Moore, L. A. (1964). Nutritive value of forage as affected by physical form. Part 1. General principles involved with ruminants and effect of feeding pelleted and wafered forage to dairy cattle. J. Anim. Sci., 23, 230–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raven, A. M., Forbes, T. J. & Irwin, J. H. D. (1969). The utilization by beef cattle of concentrate diets containing different levels of milled barley straw and of protein. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 73, 355–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raun, M. S. & Burroughs, W. (1962). Suction strainer techniques in obtaining rumen fluid samples from intact lambs. J. Anim. Sci. 21, 454–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steele, R. G. D. & Torrie, J. H. (1960). Principles and procedures of statistics. New York, Toronto and London: McGraw-Hill Book Company.Google Scholar