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The effect of supplements containing different protein and energy sources and essential oils on the performance of pasture finished heifers

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sixty Bonsmara heifers (328 ± 3.9 kg) on planted pastures were used to evaluate the effect of two energy sources and three growth promoters on body weight gain. Two supplementary feeds with dried apple pulp (A) or maize (M) as main energy source were formulated on an iso-nutrient base. One of three different growth promoters was included in each energy supplement: placebo (no growth promoter, designated as Treatments Ap and Mp), ionofore (monensin, designated as Treatments Am and Mm) and essential oil extract (from oregano, designated as Treatments Ao and Mo). A fixed amount of the supplements was offered to the six treatment groups in a growth/finishing study on cultivated grass-legume pastures.
Animals were stratified according to initial weight in ten blocks and treatments were assigned randomly to animals in each block. The 66 day growth study was conducted during spring (Sepember to November, 2014) in the Western Cape Province of South Africa near Greyton. The cultivated pastures consisted of a perennial grass-legume mixture. A rotation grazing system was applied and animals were moved to new paddocks once a week. Based on falling plate meter readings, the heifers consumed a calculated mean amount of 4.48 ± 0.08 (SEM) kg DM/day over the entire experimental period. A fixed amount of 4 kg (“as is” basis) of the respective supplements were offered daily during the first 42 days, followed by 5 kg/day from 43 days until the end of the study (66 days). Animals were weighed bi-weekly and average daily gain (ADG) was calculated.
The mean ADG of the six treatment groups was 1.44 kg/day. No interactions occurred between the energy sources and growth promoters used in the concentrates and main effects were thus interpreted. The supplements that contained apple pulp as energy source resulted in a higher (P < 0.02) ADG (1.54 kg/day) than the maize containing supplements (1.33 kg/day). There were no differences between any of the growth promoters, with the placebo resulting in similar growth rates than monensin and oregano oil extract. Mean ADG values (kg/day) of the different growth promoter treatments were 1.44 (placebo), 1.49 (monensin) and 1.38 (oregano). All the heifers were slaughtered at the end of the trial. Carcass weight and dressing percentage did not differ between energy sources or growth promoters. The mean dressing percentage was 52.5%.
The mean income over feeding cost for the 66 day period of the three maize energy source treatments was R254.20/heifer, while that of the apple pulp treatments was R524.75/heifer. According to this study, concentrate supplements containing apple pulp as main energy source were economically more desirable than those containing maize as primary energy source. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sestig Bonsmaraverse (328 ± 3.9 kg) op aangeplante weiding is gebruik om die invloed van twee energiebronne en drie groeibevorderaars op massatoename te ondersoek. Twee supplemente met gedroogde appelpulp (A) of mielies (M) as hoofenergiebron is op ‘n isonutriëntbasis geformuleer. Een van drie groeibevorderaars is in elk van die energiesupplemente ingesluit: placebo (geen groeibevorderaar, aangedui as Behandelings Ap en Mp), ‘n ionofoor (monensin, aangedui as Behandelings Am en Mm) en ‘n essensiële olie-ekstrak (van oreganum, aangedui as Behandelings Ao en Mo). ‘n Vasgestelde hoeveelheid van die supplemente is aan elk van die ses groepe in ‘n groei/afrondingsproef op aangeplante weidings aangebied.
Diere is volgens aanvangsmassa in tien bloke gestratifiseer en behandelings is ewekansig aan diere in elke blok toegeken. Die 66-dae groeistudie is gedurende die lente (September tot November) in die Wes-Kaapprovinsie van Suid-Afrika naby Greyton uitgevoer. Die weidings het uit ‘n meerjarige gras-klawermengsel bestaan. ‘n Rotasiebeweidingstelsel is gevolg en diere is weekliks na nuwe kampies verskuif. Volgens die lesings van ‘n valplaatmeter het die verse ‘n gemiddelde weidingsinname van 4.48 ± 0.08 (SEM) kg DM/dag getoon. ‘n Vasgestelde hoeveelheid van 4 kg (lugdroë basis) van die onderskeie supplemente is daagliks gedurende die eerste 42 dae van die proef aangebied, gevolg deur 5 kg/dag vanaf 43 dae tot aan die einde van die proef (66 dae). Diere is tweeweekliks geweeg en die gemiddelde daaglikse toename is (GDT) bereken.
Die gemiddelde GDT van die ses behandelingsgroepe was 1.44 kg/dag. Geen interaksies tussen die energiebronne en groeibevorderaars is waargeneem nie en hoofeffekte is gevolglik geïnterpreteer. Die supplemente wat appelpulp as energiebron bevat het, het tot ‘n hoër (P < 0.02) GDT (1.54 kg/day) gelei as die mieliebevattende supplemente (1.33 kg/dag). Daar was geen verskille tussen enige van die groeibevorderaars nie met die placebo wat soortgelyke resultate as monensin en oreganum olie-ekstrak gelewer het. Gemiddelde GDT waardes (kg/dag) van die onderskeie groeibevorderaars was 1.44 (placebo), 1.49 (monensin) en 1.38 (oreganum). Al die verse is teen die einde van die proef geslag. Karkasmassa en uitslagpersentasie het nie tussen energiebronne of groeibevorderaars verskil nie. Die gemiddelde uitslagpersentasie was 52.5%.
Die gemiddelde wins bo voerkoste van die drie energiebronsupplemente was R254.20/vers, terwyl dié van appelpulpbehandelings R524.75/vers was. Volgens hierdie studie was die supplemente wat appelpulp as hoofenergiebron bevat het, meer winsgewend as dié wat mielies as hoofenergiebron bevat het.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/97998
Date12 1900
CreatorsEngelbrecht, Michiel Nicolaas
ContributorsCruywagen, C. W., Hoffman, L. C., Hoffmann, W. H., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Animal Sciences.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format103 pages : illustrations
RightsStellenbosch University

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