Abstract

This trial was set up to determine feed intake and growth potential of young dairy steers fed whole-crop barley silage and concentrate. Whole-crop barley silage harvested at mid-dough stage of maturity was fed at ad libitum intake to 65 dairy breed steers (initial weight 127 (s.d. 20) kg) together with one (T1), two (T2) or three (T3) kg of concentrate as a treatment in a 175-day long trial. Total DM intake per day was significantly lower on T1 than on T2 and T3 (P = 0.003). Silage DM intake as a percentage of live weight differed among all treatments (P < 0.0001). Daily live weight gain was lower (P < 0.0001) on T1 than on T2 and T3. Feed intake and growth rate of the animals in this study proved whole-crop barley silage to be a suitable feed for young dairy steers

Keywords

whole-crop cereal silage; dairy steers; feed intake; growth rate

Published in

Skjervold symposium series
2003, Volume: 3, pages: 117-119
ISBN: 82-7479-016-2
Publisher: Agricultural University of Norway, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Ås, Norway

Conference

Early harvested forage in milk and meat production

SLU Authors

• Rustas, Bengt-Ove

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Nadeau, Elisabet

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Johnsson, Sölve

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science
Veterinary Science


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/1031