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Various Sources and Levels of Roughage in Steer Rations

Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Crowley and U. S. Department of Agriculture, Jeanerette, Louisiana

Abstract

Two feedlot trials were conducted to study the performance of steers fed rations containing 20 and 40% rice straw, 20 and 40% alfalfa hay, 20% rice hulls, 20% polyethylene pellets, 40% dehydrated sudangrass pellets and all-concentrate. The consumption of alfalfa hay was lower than that of rice straw at corresponding levels. Steers receiving the 20% rice straw ration consumed more concentrate and gained faster than steers fed other rations. A comparison of the concentrate intake, average daily gain and carcass weight of steers fed 20% rice straw, 20% alfalfa hay and 20% rice hulls suggests that the source of roughage influences these factors. There was no significant difference between the carcass weights of steers fed all-concentrate, 40% rice straw and 20% rice hull rations. This suggests that these roughages were of little or no value when fed at this level. Rumen fluid from steers fed rations containing 20% rice straw, 20% rice hulls, 40% alfalfa hay, and 40% sudangrass pellets were similar in proportions of acetic, propionic and butyric acid. Also, the rumen fluid from steers fed 20% alfalfa hay or all-concentrate rations was similar in proportions of VFA.