Intake and liveweight gain of fattening cattle is depressed at high levels of cassava bagasse inclusion in a quadratic dose-response relationship

Abstract

Context Cassava bagasse is readily available in tropical countries as an energy source for ruminant diets, but previous research has shown low cattle performance at high inclusion rates. Aims The nature of the dose–response relationship between increasing inclusion rate of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) bagasse (CB), substituting for protein meals in diets of fattening cattle, was used to evaluate the reduced animal performance at high inclusion rates. Methods Thirty growing Madura (Bos indicus × javanicus) bulls were fed concentrate-based diets with five levels of CB inclusion at 20 g dry matter (DM)/kg liveweight and elephant grass (Pennesetum purpureum) separately at 5 g DM/kg liveweight. The five tested CB inclusion rates into the offered diet were 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70% of total dry matter. Lines of best fit were used to describe the relationships between animal performance and CB inclusion rate. Key results Intake of dry matter and concentrate both demonstrated a quadratic relationship with increasing CB inclusion, both maximised at 46–47% CB inclusion in the offered diet or a CB intake of ~9.7 g CB/kg liveweight. Liveweight gain and change in body condition score both demonstrated a quadratic dose–response relationship with increasing CB inclusion, with maximal performance achieved at 34–38% inclusion of CB. Although protein content at the highest level of CB inclusion was low (68 g/kg DM), modelling of predicted liveweight gain indicated that this was most constrained by energy intake (as a function of concentrate intake), rather than crude protein. Conclusions Inclusion of CB up to ~45% of the diet, substituting for protein meals, does not improve, but has no detrimental effect, on liveweight gain. The plateauing of CB intake above 50% inclusion in in the offered diet suggests that cattle were eating to a maximal CB intake. Several hypotheses for reduced intake of concentrate at high levels of CB inclusion were proposed, including low protein content and hydrogen cyanide content of the CB, none of which satisfactorily explained why intake of concentrate was depressed above 50% CB inclusion of the diet on offer. Implications Rations should be formulated to contain no more than 50% CB for maximal cattle performance. Further research is required to understand the causes of depressed intake at high inclusion rates of CB.

Formulating diets based on whole cassava tuber (

“…There was no negative effect of level of cassava tuber intake on total DM intake and LWG as has been observed previously (Ba et al 2008;Cowley et al 2020) but recognising that the highest level of supplement was less than that used by Ba et al (2008) and Cowley et al (2020). The upper level of cassava tuber inclusion was set by the need for safety in using cattle provided by farmers and to have relevance in the upper levels of expenditure by farmers.…”

Toward Sustainable Feeding Systems of Madura Cattle: A Case Study in Bangkalan Regency

“…Madura cattle are mostly owned by poor farmers and traditionally raised with minimum attention to nutritional needs and nutritional status, hence risking to low livestock production, There is ample evidence to show that average daily gain (ADG) achievement of Madura cattle ranges from 0.2-0.5 kg/d under farmers' feeding management [2,3] where natural grasses or rice straw being dominant types of feed given all over the year with a very minimum input of concentrate. However, their growth rates can be increased up to 0,74 kg/d under confined fattening management [4] where 30:70% (forage: concentrate) diet was given and this suggests that there is a great potential growth of Madura cattle when the feeds are provided in appropriate amount throghout the year. Madura bulls consumed up to 2.5% of body weight (BW) achieved ADG of 600 g/d [5,6].…”