Abstract:
Six crossbred bulls (Simmental x Chinese yellow cattle) were used to study the effect of diets consisting of different ratios of concentrate to forage on their growth rate and the economics of feeding. During a growth trial lasting 58 d, the average daily live-weight gain of bulls given freshly cut green forage ad libitum supplemented with 25% concentrate did not differ significantly from that of bulls given the same forage supplemented with 43% concentrate. The mean growth rate for both groups over 58 days of feeding was 935+/-20 g/d. The results emphasise the important potential role for fresh forages in that the feeding cost per kg live-weight gain was 18 % lower for the bulls given the higher forage diet.
