A Comparison of Growth, Feed Efficiency and Carcass Characteristics of Kamphaengsaen Steers Fed Two TMR Fiber Sources During Two Different Feeding Period

Abstract

Eighteen 8-9 months old Kamphaengsaen beef steers were compared on finishing performance and some carcass data using 3 × 2 factorials in CRD experiment. The first factor was three feeding regimens where the concentrate + fresh paragrass was used as the control ration while the other two rations were hedge lucern TMR (H-TMR) and leuceana TMR (L-TMR). The legumes used in the TMR rations are for the fiber source. The second factor was two finishing days duration where 180 days and 365 days was examined. Results showed that the daily feed intake calculated as percentage of the body weight of the control group (2.17 %) was statistically higher than the H-TMR (2.10%) and the L-TMR (1.99%) groups. The shorter finishing period group consumed statistically more feeds at 2.21% and 1.96% for the 180 days and 365 days group, respectively. The ADG and FCR of the H-TMR group (1.17 kg/d and 6.03) and the L-TMR group (0.94 kg/d and 5.60) were statistically better than the control group (0.94 kg/d and 7.28), respectively. Results on finishing days duration showed that the ADG of the 180 days group (1.13 kg/d) was statistically higher than the 365 days group (1.00 kg/d). The FCR of the 180 days group (6.16) showed a better trend than the 365 days group (6.44) although not statistically different. Chilled carcass weight of the control group (217 kg) was statistically lighter than the H-TMR group (249.92 kg) and the L-TMR (250.58 kg) group. However, the dressing percentage data showed no statistically different among the three groups 59.90%, 59.80% and 61.25 % for the control, H-TMR and L-TMR, respectively. Dressing percentage of 180 days finishing (59.63%) was not statistically different to the 365 days group (61.13%).