Skip to content
Journal Title Abbrev.
J. Elem.
ISSN – 1644-2296
DOI: 10.5601

Search article

Language
flag flag
The effect of grass silage quality and supplementary concentrate levels on feed intake and fattening performance of crossbred steers

Issue: 4/2016

Recevied: Dec 01, 2015

Accepted: May 27, 2016

Published: July 11, 2016

Authors:

Purwin C., Wyżlic I., Nogalski Z., Pogorzelska-Przybyłek P., Lipiński K., Wierzbowska J., Starczewski M., Michalski J.P.

Categories: Agricultural

DOI: 10.5601/jelem.2015.20.4.1061

Abstract:

Grass silage is the basic component of diets for winter or year-round feeding of beef cattle in Central and Northern Europe, but its quality can vary considerably. The aim of this study was to determine whether the quality of silage influences the fattening performance of crossbred steers and whether higher intake of supplementary concentrate improves performance in steers fed silage of lower quality. The experiment was conducted on 52 crossbred steers with the initial body weight of 300 kg, produced by crossing Polish Holstein-Friesian dairy cows with Charolais, Limousin and Hereford bulls. The animals had ad libitum access to one of two types of grass silages (of higher and lower quality), and silage intake was recorded individually. Supplementary concentrate consisted of crimped triticale grain (785 g kg-1), rapeseed meal (190 g kg-1) and a mineral-vitamin premix for beef cattle (25 g kg-1). Concentrate was administered at two levels of 1.9 and 2.4 kg dry matter per day. The animals were housed in a free-stall system and feed intake was recorded individually. The fattening period lasted 65 days. Live weight gains were higher (P

Citation:

quote-mark
Purwin C., Wyżlic I., Nogalski Z., Sobczuk-Szul M., Pogorzelska-Przybyłek P., Lipiński K., Wierzbowska J., Starczewski M., Michalski J.P. 2016. The effect of grass silage quality and supplementary concentrate levels on feed intake and fattening performance of crossbred steers. J. Elem., 21(4): 1103 - 1113, DOI: 10.5601/jelem.2015.20.4.1061

Keywords:

silage quality, concentrate levels, beef cattle, grass silage, steers

About issue:

22.4.2016
Download article
Jsite