THE ADDITION OF BUFFERS TO RUMINANT RATIONS: II. ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS ON WEIGHT GAINS, EFFICIENCY OF GAINS AND CONSUMPTION BY STEERS OF ALL-CONCENTRATE RATIONS

Abstract

Two experiments, involving a total of 60 beef steers fed all-concentrate rations, were conducted to determine the effect of additions of sodium bicarbonate, sodium propionate and cod liver oil on rates of gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and carcass grades of the steers. The basal ration consisted of the following ingredients in percentages: barley 40; oats 40; linseed oil meal 10; molasses 8.5; dicalcium phosphate 1.0; trace-mineralized salt 0.5; plus vitamins A and D. The addition of 5.7 per cent sodium bicarbonate to this all-concentrate ration, composed of either ground or rolled grains, did not improve gains, feed efficiency or carcass grades. The addition of 3.6 per cent sodium propionate to the bicarbonate-containing ration did not have any significant effect on animal gains, feed efficiency or carcass grades. When 75 milliliters of cod liver oil was fed once daily with a ration containing 5.7 per cent sodium bicarbonate, carcass grade, dressing percentage, feed consumption and rate of gain, but not feed efficiency, were significantly reduced. The rolled-grain rations gave more satisfactory results than the ground-grain rations. A high incidence of kidney lesions was observed among some of the ration groups.