Effects of concentrates on performance of finishing heifers at pasture in autumn

Extract

The costs associated with indoor finishing, i.e. ensiling grass, storage of silage and slurry, providing animal accommodation and disposal of slurry are substantial. Thus, where possible animals approaching slaughter should be finished at pasture rather than indoors. However, the seasonal decline in grass growth often results in insufficient grass in autumn to attain satisfactory performance with finishing animals. Finishing animals at pasture will involve less ensilage thereby permitting grass to accumulate on pastures as autumn approaches. Such grass could be supplemented with the concentrate allowance normally offered indoors. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect on performance of heifers of offering supplementary concentrates at pasture, and to compare pasture finishing with finishing on grass silage and concentrates.