@inproceedings{paperid:1008678,
author = {Valizadeh, Reza},
title = {The Effects of Feeding Cubed Complete Ration on Feedlot Male Calves},
booktitle = {the 13 animal science congress of the asia},
year = {2008},
keywords = {This research has been conducted to indicate the effect of cubed total mixed ration on feedlot male calves performance. 24 brown Swiss male calves (225±16) kg weight with (234 ± 20) days age were placed in a completely randomized design allocated to three diets and fed ad- libitum for 100 days individually. Experimental diets included 1) total mixed ration 2) cubed total mixed ration which the concentrate part of this diet was processed under steam with the temperature of 120o C for 1 minute 3) cubed total mixed ration. Physical hardness of feed cubes among diets showed significant differences (P<0.05). The apparent dry matter; organic matter; crude protein and NDF digestibility did not indicate any significant difference between calves (P>0.05). Rumen pH and chewing activity showed significant differences (P<0.05). Neither serum metabolites (Glucose; BUN and IGF-I) nor ruminal N-NH3 did not show any significant difference (P>0.05). The average daily dry matter intake between calves (9.45; 8.81 and 9.98 kg/day); respectively and average daily weight gain (1497; 1400 and 1615 gr/day); respectively showed significant differences (P<0.05). Feed conversion ratio did not show any significant differences (P>0.05). Hot carcass weight (255.45; 234.50 and 266.50) respectively; showed significant difference between calves (P<0.05). Consequently cubed diet did not show any negative effect and easily consumed in large quantities by calves},
}