Nutrient Accumulation and Prediction of Body Composition of 20-Week-Old Calves Fed Varying Percentages of Protein and Fiber

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Abstract
Four crude protein (CP) (9.0, 11.5, 14.5 and 17.5%) and three acid detergent fiber (ADF) (11, 18 and 25%) percentages were evaluated in a complete factorial experiment. Five calves were randomly assigned to an experimental ration at 8 weeks of age and fed ad libitum during two consecutive 6-week periods. Live weights and feed intakes were determined weekly. Male calves were slaughtered at 20 weeks of age and total body composition determined. Four comparable males were slaughtered at 8 weeks of age serving as an initial slaughter group. Digestive tract contents (fill) increased linearly with increasing fiber and decreased with added protein. Composition of fat-free tissue was nearly constant. An equation, containing percent fat of the 13th rib and kilograms kidney fat, predicted ether extract of empty body with an R of .90. Carcass specific gravity and percent fat of 9-10-11th rib were not good predictors of body fat. Efficiency of transformation of ration protein to tissue protein was 33.8, 31.7 and 25.4 for 11, 18 and 25% ADF rations. Copyright © 1976. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1976 by American Society of Animal Science.

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