Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-jbqgn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-23T02:07:20.894Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of Forage:Concentrate Ratios in the diet and Intake Restriction on the Rumen Fermentation and Hormone Profiles of Finishing Beef Steers.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2017

C.L. Thorp ,
R.W.J. Steen ,
A.R.G. Wylie ,
J.D. McEvoy  and
C. Shaw
C.L. Thorp
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough
R.W.J. Steen
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough Department of Agriculture, Northern Ireland
A.R.G. Wylie
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture, Queen's University, Belfast Department of Agriculture, Northern Ireland
J.D. McEvoy
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Northern Ireland Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast
C. Shaw
Affiliation:
Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast
Get access

Extract

Studies have shown that reducing energy intake by restricting dry matter intake (DMI) at a constant forage: concentrate (F:C) ratio is more effective at increasing carcass lean and reducing carcass fat content than is reducing energy intake by increasing the F:C ratio (1). Research at this Institute has also shown that, per megajoule of digestible energy (DE), diets restricted in this manner are 45 % more efficient at producing carcass lean.

The mechanism by which these methods of restriction result in these differences in carcass composition has previously been assumed to be that of rumen fermentation. More recently however, the significance of rumen fermentation in controlling the carcass composition of beef cattle has been questioned (2,3).

The aim of this experiment was to examine the effect of decreasing the F:C ratio, at constant DE and DMI, on both rumen and endocrinological parameters, in particular the hormones insulin and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), in finishing beef steers.

Type
Beef Production
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1994 , March 1994 , pp. 69
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. The effect of plane of nutrition and forage concentrate ratio on the performance and carcass composition of finishing beef steers. Steen, R.W.J. Animal Production, 1992, Vol. 54. Abstract, P. 450.Google Scholar
2. Effect of energy intake and forageconcentrate ratio in the diet on the behaviour, rumen fermentation and hormone concentrations of finishing beef steers. Thorp, C.L., Steen, R.W.J., Wylie, A.R.G. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research, 1993, Vol. 32, Abstract, P.97 Google Scholar
3. Growth and rumen fermentation in steers fed silage and concentrates differing in energy source. Moloney, A.P., McHugh, T.V., McArthur, A. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research, 1993, Vol. 32, Abstract, P.101 Google Scholar