EFFECT OF QUALITY AND LEVEL OF GROUND FORAGE IN RATIONS FOR FINISHING STEERS

Abstract

Good, medium and poor quality forages were ground and added, at levels of 20, 45, 70 and 95%, to complete mixed rations for finishing long-yearling steers. Dry-rolled barley, supplemented with vitamin A, minerals and an antibiotic, constituted the remainder of each ration. The rations were self-fed to groups of eight steers, four Charolais × Hereford and four Aberdeen Angus. Increasing the level of forage reduced average daily gain, efficiency of feed conversion and dressing percentage and increased days on feed. Generally, the effect of roughage quality on these criteria was significant only at the 95% level of medium quality forage and at the 70 and 95% levels of poor quality forage. The rate of gain (1.04 kg daily) and carcass grades (87% Canada Choice or Good) of steers fed 95% good quality forage indicated the potential for producing finished beef in areas where good quality forages can be produced more economically than grain. The Charolais crossbred steers gained significantly faster, required a longer feeding period to reach a preselected degree of finish, and received a lower average carcass grade than the Angus steers.