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The efficacy of dietary avoparcin for improving the performance of growing-finishing beef cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

N. H. Cuthbert
Affiliation:
BOCM Silcock, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 2EQ
W. S. Thickett
Affiliation:
BOCM Silcock, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 2EQ
H. Smith
Affiliation:
Cyanamid of Great Britain Ltd, Gosport, Hampshire, PO13 0AS
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Abstract

The response to avoparcin in cattle diets was examined in two trials. In trial 1 compound diets containing 0, 15, 30 or 60 mg/kg avoparcin were given to 32 British Friesian bulls from 231 kg body weight to slaughter at a mean body weight of 422 kg. In trial 2 diets containing 0, 15, 30 or 45 mg/kg avoparcin and composed of equal portions of dry matter (DM) from grass silage and compound food were given to 64 British Friesian steers over a 12-week period from 258 kg body weight to 340 kg body weight.

There was a significant growth response of 120 g per head daily in trial 1 and 80 g per head daily in trial 2 to inclusion of 15 mg/kg avoparcin in the diet compared to the control diet without avoparcin. Food conversion efficiency of diets with 15 mg/kg avoparcin was improved by a reduction of 0·52 and 0·61 kg DM per kg live-weight gain respectively in the two trials. There was no further growth response or improvement in food conversion with higher levels of avoparcin with the diets used, the type of cattle employed and the management which applied in these trials. These findings are in good agreement with those previously published.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1984

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References

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