Die Bodenkultur - Journal for Land Management, Food and Environment

K. LUGER and R. LEITGEB:

Influence of sunflower meal in diets for simmental bulls on growing and slaughtering performance

Summary

In a cattle growing experiment with 72 simmental male calves sunflower meal was compared with sojabean meal. The animals were randomly alloted into four groups (18 animals/group). Each group received one of four experimental protein concentrates. The content of sojabean meal (57 % group K, 38 % group 81, 19 % group 82 and 0 % group 83) was replaced by sunflower meal (0 % K, 23 % 81, 46 % 82 and 69 % S3). Experimental diets (120 to 620 kg LW) consisted of maize silage (33 % DM) offered semi ad libitum and 1.43 kg per head/day of protein concentrate (28 % protein). The daily gain of the feeding groups K, S1, 82 and 83 were 1252, 1223, 1225 and 1183 g, respectively. The average daily live weight gain did not differ significantly. There were also no significant affects on dry matter, crude protein and energy intake when sojabean meal was replaced by sunflower meal in the diet. The average daily dry matter intake were at 150 kg LW 3.5, at 350 kg LW 6.8 arid at 550 kg LW 8.6 kg. The digestibility of the rations was estimated by the indicator method. There were no significant differences among the four diets in the digestibility of nutrients. The average digestibility of organic matter were 70.0 % (K), 69.8 % (S1), 68.1 % (82) and 67.4 % (S3), respectively. There were no significant influences of the experimental diets on slaughtering performance. The carcasse dressing percentage of the experimental feeding groups amounted to 55.0 % (K), 55.4 % (S1), 55.5 % (S2) and 55.5 % (S3). As the results of this feeding trial shows sunflower meal is a good source of protein for growing bulis and can replace other protein sources to a high amount very well. Key-words: feeding, sunflower meal, bull, growing, slaughtering, beef quality.