Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T11:09:30.961Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Infertile bulls versus steers: II. Feed conversion efficiency and the effects of a high fat diet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

M. A. Price  and
N. T. M. Yeates
M. A. Price
Affiliation:
Dept. of Livestock Husbandry, University of New England, Armidale, N.S.W., Australia
N. T. M. Yeates
Affiliation:
Dept. of Livestock Husbandry, University of New England, Armidale, N.S.W., Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The feed conversion efficiency of four intensively fed, partially castrated male cattle, measured over an 11-week period from approximately 9-months of age, was found to be significantly higher (P <0·05) than that of four steers.

The effect of adding 5% beef tallow to the diet during this period was also studied. Although no statistically significant result of this on feed conversion was obtained, there was an indication that fat in the diet improved the bulls' efficiency, but not that of the steers. Added dietary fat had an effect on carcass composition, increasing signifioantly (P < 0·05) the deposition of carcass fat by steers but having no such effect in bulls. It appears, therefore, that the two sex types metabolized the added dietary fat differently, the steers converting much of it to depot fat; the bulls using it (with some evidenoe of greater efficiency) for growth of non-adipose carcass components.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 77 , Issue 2 , October 1971 , pp. 313 - 315
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1971

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Albin, R. C. & Durham, R. M. (1967). Restricted feeding and use of dehydrated alfalfa meal and beef tallow in an all concentrate ration for fattening steers. J. Anim. Sci. 26, 85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blaxter, K. L. (1962). The Energy Metabolism of Ruminants. London: Hutchinson and Co. Ltd.Google Scholar
Bohmau, V. R. & Wade, M. A. (1958). The effect of certain feed additives on the tissue of fattening beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 17, 124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bohman, V. R., Wade, M. A. & Hotter, J. E. (1957). The effect of chlortetracycline, stilboestrol and animal fat on fattening steers. J. Anim. Sci. 16, 833.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brännäng, E. (1966). Carcase composition of Swedish cattle breeds. Anim. Breed. Abstr. 34, no. 2822.Google Scholar
Erwin, E. S., Dyer, I. A. & Ensminger, M. E. (1956). Effects of chlortetracycline and tallow on gains. J. Anim. Sci. 15, 710.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Esplin, G., Hale, W. H., Hubbert, F. & Taylor, B. (1963). Effect of animal tallow and hydrolysed vegetable and animal fat on ration utilisation and rumen volatile fatty acid production with fattening steers. J. Anim. Sci. 22, 695.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hubbert, F., Taylor, B., Stanley, E. B., Hale, W. H. & Kuhn, J. (1961). Factors influencing tallow utilisation in feedlot. J. Anim. Sci. 20, 669.Google Scholar
Klosterman, E. W., Kunkle, L. E., Gerlaugh, P. & Cahill, V. R. (1954 a). The effect of age of castration upon rate and economy of gain and carcase quality of beef calves. J. Anim. Sci. 13, 817.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klosterman, E. W., Kunkle, L. E., Gerlaugh, P. & Cahill, V. R. (1954 b). Bull calves make more rapid gains than steers in feedlot. Ohio Fm Home Res. 39, 77.Google Scholar
Kocenov, D. A. (1962). The effect of castration at various ages on growth and beef characters of young cattle. Anim. Breed. Abstr. 32, no. 1840.Google Scholar
Kochakian, C. D. (1937). Testosterone and testosterone acetate and the protein and energy metabolism of castrate dogs. Endocrinology 21, 750.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Price, M. A. & Yeates, N. T. M. (1971). Infertile bulls versus steers. I. The influence of level of nutrition on relative growth rate. J. agric. Sci., Camb 77, 307.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raven, A. M. (1968). Nutritional effects of including low levels of tallow and palm-kernel oil in all concentrate and concentrate/hay diets for young cattle. Recent agric. Res. 17, 173.Google Scholar
Robertson, I. S., Wilson, J. C. & Morris, P. G. D. (1967). Growth in castrated cattle. Growth, carcase composition and sexual development in bulls, steers and cattle castrated by Baiburtcjan's method. Vet. Rec. 81, 88.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Robertson, I. S., Hubard, Ocariz J. L., Wilson, J. C. & Paver, H. (1969). Gonadectomy in intensive beef production. In Meat production from Entire Male Animals. Ed. Rhodes, D. N.. London: J. and A. Churchill Ltd.Google Scholar
Turton, J. D. (1962). The effect of castration meat production and quality in cattle, sheep and pigs. Anim. Breed. Abstr. 30, 447.Google Scholar
Turton, J. D. (1969). The effect of castration on meat production from cattle, sheep and pigs. Chapter in Meat Production from Entire Male Animals. Ed. Rhodes, D. N.. London: J. and A. Churchill Ltd.Google Scholar