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The effects of winter nutrition on the subsequent live-weight performance and intake of herbage by beef cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Margaret M. Wanyoike  and
W. Holmes
Margaret M. Wanyoike
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent, TN25 5AH
W. Holmes
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent, TN25 5AH
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Summary

Thirty-six Friesian and Friesian cross-bred cattle about 11 months old were fed to grow at the rates of 0·50 (low) and 1·08 (high) kg/day in a 12-week winter feeding period and then turned out on high quality pasture. For 12 weeks after turning out the ‘low’ and ‘high’ animals gained weight at 1·17 and 0·90 kg/day respectively. There was a negative correlation (– 0·57, P < 0·01) between winter and grazing live-weight gain.

On two occasions herbage intake was estimated. Average intake of ‘low’ animals was 12% higher than of ‘high’ animals although herbage digestibility, estimated from faecal N, was similar for the two treatments. Differences in live-weight gain on pasture between treatments were largely accounted for by differences in intake.

The low rate of winter growth did not have any significant effects on age at slaughter, carcass weights or grades attained by the restricted animals.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 97 , Issue 1 , August 1981 , pp. 221 - 226
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

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References

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