Feed utilization and growth performance of Tanzania shorthorn zebu fed untreated or urea treated rice straws as hay replacement in traditional feedlot system
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Date
2023-05-17
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Science Publishing Group
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of complete or partial replacement of Cenchrus ciliaris hay with untreated or urea
treated rice straws on feed intake, growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and gross margin of Tanzania Shorthorn
Zebu (TSHZ) cattle under feedlot condition. A total of 50 bulls with age of 2.5 - 3.0 years and mean initial weight of 132.4 ±
26.7 kg were assigned randomly to five treatments i.e. 100% Cenchrus ciliaris hay (CCH), 100% untreated rice straws (URS),
100% urea treated rice straws (TRS), 50% untreated rice straw + 50% C. ciliaris hay (URH) and 50% treated rice straw + 50%
C. ciliaris (TRH). All animals were supplemented with a diet comprised of 53% maize bran, 25% molasses, 20% sunflower
seed cake, 1.5% mineral premix and 0.5% table salt. The results show that average daily gain and weight gain did not differ (p >
0.05) among the treatments. However, animals on TRH showed the highest growth rate (770.0 ± 0.1 g/day) and weight gain
(64.7 ± 4.4 kg), followed by those on TRS (growth rate = 725.0 ± 0.1 g/day, weight gain = 60.9 ± 4.4 kg) while those on URS
had the lowest growth rate (599.0 ± 0.1 g/day) and weight gain (50.3 ± 4.4 kg). Animals fed TRS (9.8 ± 0.1) and TRH (8.9 ±
0.1) had lower (p ≤ 0.001) FCR than those fed CCH (10.3 ± 0.1), URS (11.9 ± 0.1) and URH (10.4 ± 0.1). The highest gross
margin was obtained on animals under TRS (TZS 154,293.00) while the lowest was found on animals under CCH (TZS
120,450.00). Partial or complete replacement of hay with treated or untreated rice straws resulted into higher growth
performance than feeding hay alone. Feeding animals with urea treated rice straws resulted into higher growth performance
and better feed utilization compared to feeding hay or untreated rice straws. It is concluded that complete replacement of hay
with urea treated rice straws resulted into high growth rate, lower FCR and high gross margin, hence, it is recommended as the
best basal diet for fattening of TSHZ under traditional feedlot system.
Description
This study evaluated the effects of complete or partial replacement of Cenchrus ciliaris hay with untreated or urea
treated rice straws on feed intake, growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and gross margin of Tanzania Shorthorn
Zebu (TSHZ) cattle under feedlot condition. A total of 50 bulls with age of 2.5 - 3.0 years and mean initial weight of 132.4 ±
26.7 kg were assigned randomly to five treatments i.e. 100% Cenchrus ciliaris hay (CCH), 100% untreated rice straws (URS),
100% urea treated rice straws (TRS), 50% untreated rice straw + 50% C. ciliaris hay (URH) and 50% treated rice straw + 50%
C. ciliaris (TRH). All animals were supplemented with a diet comprised of 53% maize bran, 25% molasses, 20% sunflower
seed cake, 1.5% mineral premix and 0.5% table salt. The results show that average daily gain and weight gain did not differ (p >
0.05) among the treatments. However, animals on TRH showed the highest growth rate (770.0 ± 0.1 g/day) and weight gain
(64.7 ± 4.4 kg), followed by those on TRS (growth rate = 725.0 ± 0.1 g/day, weight gain = 60.9 ± 4.4 kg) while those on URS
had the lowest growth rate (599.0 ± 0.1 g/day) and weight gain (50.3 ± 4.4 kg). Animals fed TRS (9.8 ± 0.1) and TRH (8.9 ±
0.1) had lower (p ≤ 0.001) FCR than those fed CCH (10.3 ± 0.1), URS (11.9 ± 0.1) and URH (10.4 ± 0.1). The highest gross
margin was obtained on animals under TRS (TZS 154,293.00) while the lowest was found on animals under CCH (TZS
120,450.00). Partial or complete replacement of hay with treated or untreated rice straws resulted into higher growth
performance than feeding hay alone. Feeding animals with urea treated rice straws resulted into higher growth performance
and better feed utilization compared to feeding hay or untreated rice straws. It is concluded that complete replacement of hay
with urea treated rice straws resulted into high growth rate, lower FCR and high gross margin, hence, it is recommended as the
best basal diet for fattening of TSHZ under traditional feedlot system.
Keywords
Crop Residues, Cattle Fattening, Feed Conversion Ratio, Gross Margin, Growth rate