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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2009

Effect of stage of maturity of whole-crop barley on intake and liveweight gain by dairy steers differing in initial live weight

Rustas, B. -O.; Nadeau, E.; Johnsson, S.

Abstract

The effect of maturity at harvest of whole-crop barley for ensiling on intake and liveweight gain of dairy steers differing in initial live weight (LW) was evaluated in an experiment over two years. Light (104-120 kg) and heavy (402-419 kg) dairy steers were fed diets containing predominantly whole-crop barley silage harvested at the milk stage [dry matter (DM) content of 284 g kg(-1) and neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) concentration of 526 g kg(-1) DM] or the dough stage of maturity (DM content of 328 g kg(-1) and NDF concentration of 445 g kg(-1) DM) and supplemented with up to 1 kg of concentrate. Dry matter intake (g kg(-1) LW) was higher for whole-crop barley harvested at the dough stage than at the milk stage of maturity and the difference was greater in heavy than in light steers (P < 0 center dot 001). Liveweight gain was higher and feed conversion ratio was lower for dough-stage compared with milk-stage silage (P < 0 center dot 05) but there was no interaction with size of steer. Whole-crop barley harvested at the dough stage of maturity promoted higher liveweight gains in dairy steers compared with whole-crop barley harvested at the milk stage due to a higher DM intake.

Keywords

whole-crop cereal silage; stage of maturity; growing cattle; feed intake; liveweight gain

Published in

Grass and Forage Science
2009, volume: 64, number: 3, pages: 227-235
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Authors' information

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Environment and Health
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Environment and Health
Johnsson, Sölve
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Environment and Health

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science
Veterinary Science

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.2009.00688.x

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/26241