Original scientific paper
SEMI-CONCENTRATE RATIONS IN HEREFORD BULLOCKS FATTENING
Vinko Pintić
; Visoko gospodarsko učilište Križevci, Križevci, Hrvatska
Dean Marenčić
; Visoko gospodarsko učilište Križevci, Križevci, Hrvatska
Ante Ivanković
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Nataša Pintić Pukec
; Hrvatska poljoprivredna agencija Zagreb, Poljana Križevačka 185, Križevci
Tatjana Jelen
; Visoko gospodarsko učilište Križevci, Križevci, Hrvatska
Abstract
The effect of semi-concentrate rations on increment, energy consumption, protein and on the cost of the daily ration was investigated in bullocks fattening of Hereford breed. Two groups of bullocks were investigated during two years in the cattle practicum of the College of agriculture at Križevci. Bullocks came from their own production where the cows are used to produce calves that live with the cow until 6 up to 7 months when they are weaned and placed for fattening. The experimental bullocks fattening included four semi-concentrate rations and maximum use of roughage in the form of corn silage of whole corn plants. Bullocks fattening began with an average initial weight of 239 kg in the first and 247 kg in the second group (p>0.05) and ended with 490 kg in the first group and 510 kg (p<0.05) in the second group. The needs of bullocks per the control periods were determined on the basis of standards (recommendations) for cattle fattening by DLG expressed in the metabolic energy (ME) and usable crude protein (UCP). Four different semi-concentrate rations were examined depending on the age and average weight of bullocks in each investigated group. Corn silage participated with 69.0%, meadow hay with 14.5% and mixture with 16.5% in the structure of dry matter (DM) of investigated rations. In investigated rations the average concentration of energy was 10.9 MJ ME/kg of dry matter and of usable protein was 135 g/kg of dry matter. The daily intake of dry matter increased on average by 60% with increasing weight but compared to the intake of dry matter per 100 kg of live weight it reduced from initial 1.87 kg to 1.69 kg at the end of the fattening period or by 10% observing the control periods in both groups of bullocks. Satisfactory daily increment was achieved in both groups of bullocks, in the first group 1030 g and in the second one 1100 g. Dif¬ferences in the achieved average conversion of metabolic energy and usable crude protein per 1 kg of increment between groups were not significant (p>0.05) and was amounted in the first group 72.15 MJ ME and 901.70 g UCP and in the second group 67.75 MJ ME and 847.50 g UCP. Cost of daily ration varied per control periods and grew with the increasing weight of bullocks. In the first group cost per daily ration was from 4.88 to 7.38 kn and in the second group from 5.61 to 8.57 kn. Realized differences of average cost of daily ration between the two groups of bullocks were significant (p<0.05). That may be due to the replacement of part of the protein with nonprotein nitrogen and better quality of corn silage in the rations for the first group of bullocks (390 g DM, 51 g UCP, 4, 26 MJ ME / kg) compared to the second group (ST 343 g, 44 g of UCP, 3.70 MJ ME / kg), which was 69% in the structure of the dry matter of the ration.
Keywords
bullocks; fattening; semi-concentrate ration; concentration of energy
Hrčak ID:
124179
URI
Publication date:
26.6.2014.
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