THE EFFECTS OF LEVEL OF FEED CONSUMPTION ON RATE AND EFFICIENCY OF GAIN BY STEERS FED AN ALL-BARLEY RATION

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Abstract
Steers were individually offered an all-barley ration at levels calculated to meet the maintenance requirements of the animals and to obtain a gain of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 pounds per day. The gains obtained were 0.97, 1.45, 1.95, and 2.03 pounds per day and the corresponding feed: gain ratios were 10.92, 8.51, 7.02, and 7.05. The feed: gain ratio was higher in Lot 1 than in Lots 2, 3, and 4 (P <.01) and, also, was higher in Lot 2 than in 3 and 4 (P <.05). The correlation coefficient of −0.92 between average daily gain and feed: gain ratio was significant (P <.01).The digestible energy of the barley was a calculated value based on the energy requirement for maintenance and gain and was found to be 1911 kilocalories per pound. No correlation was found between fat in the 9th, 10th, 11th rib section and urinary creatinine. Significant correlations were found between urinary creatinine excretion and both average daily gain and feed: gain ratio.