Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to assess the nutritive value of crab meal for 200- and 300-kg weaned beef calves. In exp. 1, the addition of 10 or 20% soybean meal in a barley-based concentrate offered at up to 2 kg head−1 d−1 had a positive effect on growth rate and feed conversion efficiency of the 200-kg crossbred heifers fed hay ad libitum (P < 0.05). However, the incorporation of crab meal at levels of 15 and 35% of the concentrate mixture reduced (P < 0.05) feed consumption and growth. Levels of both 15 and 35% crab meal in the barley concentrate appeared to require an adaptation period by the heifers since feed intake and the weight gains improved with time. In exp. 2, steer calves weighing 200 or 300 kg were fed up to 1% of body weight of concentrate mixtures containing 20% soybean or 35% crab meal. Crab meal inclusion at 35% of the grain ration resulted in reduced feed intake and performance by the calves with most of this negative effect eliminated after a period of adaptation. Key words: Cattle, crab meal, grain, feed efficiency, soybean meal
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