Effects of Confinement and Level of Feed Intake on Digestibility of Nutrients and Excretion of Chromic Oxide, Crude Protein and Gross Energy in the Bovine

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Abstract
Six, 2-year-old Angus steers averaging 453 kg were used to study the effects of confinement, fecal collection apparatus and level of feed intake on nutrient digestibility and excretion of crude protein, chromic oxide and gross energy. Treatments were: (A) 6.81 kg of complete pelleted ration containing 0.5% chromic oxide to steers in crates; (B) 6.81 kg of the ration to steers in individual pens wearing fecal collection apparatus; (C) feed offered ad libitum to steers in individual pens wearing fecal collection apparatus. Excretion patterns of chromic oxide, crude protein and gross energy were determined from 2-hr, grab samples taken for 48 consecutive hours. The excretion of chromic oxide, crude protein and gross energy was not significantly different due to time of sampling for any treatment. There were significant (P<.01) differences in excretion of chromic oxide, crude protein and gross energy among steers for all treatments. Digestion coefficients calculated by the indicator method were lower than conventional coefficients for all treatments due to the incomplete recovery of dietary chromic oxide. Chromic oxide and crude protein excretion patterns were significantly (P<.01) correlated for all treatments. Digestibility of crude protein calculated from the grab samples were significantly (P<.01) lower than conventional coefficients. Excretion patterns of chromic oxide and gross energy were not significantly correlated for any treatment. There was no significant difference in nutrient digestibility due to confinement, fecal collection apparatus, or level of feed intake. Copyright © 1970. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1970 by American Society of Animal Science

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