The effect on young beef cattle of supplementing hay with dried grass or concentrates

Abstract

Forty-eight Friesian steers with an average liveweight of 168 kg were given hay ad libitum supplemented with 0, 0-6,1-2,1-8, 2-4 and 30 kg artifically dried grass or concentrates. In vitro dry matter digestibility of hay was 55%. Liveweight gain increased with each successive increase in the level of supplementation. The intake of hay decreased but the total DM was greatest at the higher level of supplementation. The results suggest that dried grass pellets combine well with hay and may be used to replace concentrates. It was shown that 1 kg of either dried grass or concentrates given as a supplement to hay fed ad libitum, will increase the liveweight gain by 016 kg d"' and decrease hay intake by 0 25 kg d-'.