Pineapple stem by-product as a feed source for growth performance, ruminal fermentation, carcass and meat quality of Holstein steers

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of pineapple stem by-product silage as a feed source in total replacement of Napier or corn silages on growth performance, feed intake and feed efficiency, ruminal fermentation, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Holstein crossbred steers. Forty-eight steers with an average age of 18 months (448.6 ± 51.5 kg) were randomly allocated to three groups (one diet per group) in a completely randomized design. Steers were fed total mixed ration (TMR) containing a roughage-to-concentrate ratio of 20 : 80. The TMR diets contained Napier grass silage (nTMR), whole corn silage (cTMR) or pineapple stem silage (pTMR) and were offered ad libitum for six months. The results revealed that pTMR and cTMR diets resulted in a significantly higher weight gain than nTMR. These results were observed because pTMR and cTMR diets provided more N-free extract (NFE) total digestible nutrients (TDN) than nTMR diet, and the feed conversion efficiencies for pTMR and cTMR diets were higher than those of nTMR. Ruminal pH, ammonia-nitrogen and volatile fatty acid concentrations were not significantly different among dietary treatments. The carcass characteristics of steers fed cTMR and pTMR diets included significantly larger rib eye areas than steers fed nTMR, whereas meat quality was not affected by treatment. Additionally, the current research showed that pTMR diet provided the lowest feed cost per gain. The results suggest that pineapple stem by-product could be regarded as a potential feed source for reducing costs in cattle feedlots.

Feeding pineapple waste silage as roughage source improved the nutrient intakes, energy status and growth performances of growing Myanmar local cattle

“…Concerning the feed intake of cattle fed on PWS, Gowda et al [ 4 ] reported that replacement of PWS in Napier green fodder showed no significant effect on nutrient intakes of Holstein Friesian dairy cows. Moreover, Hattakum et al [ 5 ] also stated that the replacement of PWS in NGS decreased feed intake of Holstein steer. However, Maneerat et al [ 9 ] reported that feeding pineapple peel silage instead of sweet corn husk and cob silage increased DMI of fattening Thai steers, which is consistent with our finding.…”

“…Thus, the inconsistency of feed intake of cattle fed on PWS might be the differences in the breed of cattle used in experiments. In the experiments of Gowda et al [ 4 ] and Hattakum et al [ 5 ], Holstein dairy cows and steer were used as experimental animals, which are different in the breed of cattle used in our experiment and Maneerat et al [ 9 ]. In contrast, Myanmar local cattle and fattening Thai steers, both are Zebu type ( Bos indicus ) [ 18 , 19 ], were used, respectively.…”

“…Likewise, feeding PWS replacing in Napier green fodder to dairy cows improved average daily milk yield and milk fat content [ 4 ]. Hattakum et al [ 5 ] also reported that the replacement of PWS in NGS increased the weight gain of Holstein steer.…”

“…Pineapple waste silage (PWS) is promising for ruminants to use as the roughage source [ 5 , 6 ]. The inclusion of pineapple waste in the ensiling of elephant grass improved the rumen degradability parameters [ 7 ] and digestibility of silage [ 8 ].…”

“…Likewise, the replacement of PWS in Napier green fodder improved average daily milk yield and milk fat content without increasing nutrient intakes in Holstein Friesian dairy cows and no effect on nutrient intakes and growth performances in lambs [ 4 ]. Hattakum et al [ 5 ] also reported that the replacement of PWS in Napier grass silage (NGS) increased the weight gain of Holstein steer without improving feed intake. As mentioned above, feeding PWS as the source of roughage enhanced the growth performances of ruminants; however, its impact on nutrient intake was varied based on type and breed of ruminants.…”