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Enzyme Additions to Fattening Cattle Rations^{1, 2,}

Iowa State University, Ames

Abstract

The value of adding a dried enzyme mixture of bacterial origin (Agro-zyme) to beef cattle rations was investigated in 10 feeding experiments making use of 325 cattle divided into 43 experimental groups. The enzyme mixture was fed at the rate of either 0.0075 or .015 lb. per animal daily incorporated in the protein supplement allowance. Replicate lots, both enzyme-fed and control, were included in 8 of the 10 experiments. Both fattening and growing rations were fed either to steers or heifers for periods ranging from 84 to 250 days in the respective experiments. Rate of live-weight gain, feed consumption, feed required per unit of gain and carcass measurements, including dressing percentage and federal grade, were the primary criteria. Liveweight gains were increased an average of 7% in the 10 experiments by feeding the enzyme mixture. Little or no influence upon feed consumption was noted. However, feed required per unit of gain was improved in the enzyme-fed cattle by an average of 6% in the 10 experiments. No consistent improvement was noted in dressing percent and federal carcass grade although the cattle fed enzymes averaged slightly higher in both measurements. The increase in gain and feed conversion noted in cattle was not associated with an increase in total ration digestibility in separate digestion trials. Dry matter, organic matter, protein and cellulose digestibility was not influenced by enzyme supplementation.

¹ Journal Paper No. J-3562 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project 869.

² The enzyme mixture used (Agrozyme) was supplied by Merck Sharp and Dohme Research Laboratories and contained both amylolytic and proteolytic enzymes as well as others.

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