Restricted Feeding and Use of Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal and Beef Tallow in an All-Concentrate Ration for Fattening Steers

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Effects of beef tallow and dehydrated alfalfa meal additions and restricted feeding were determined on the performance and carcass characteristics of steers fed an all-concentrate ration. Live weight animal response was compared to estimated empty body weight response. All-concentrate rations containing 5% dehydrated alfalfa and 3% dehydrated alfalfa plus 2% fat reduced the efficiency of feed utilization. A ration containing 5% dehydrated alfalfa meal produced less fat covering the rib eye, as compared with a ration containing 3% dehydrated alfalfa meal plus 2% fat. Restricting feed consumption of an all-concentrate ration produced the following effects: reduced growth rate, reduced efficiency of feed utilization and resulted in less fat covering the rib eye. Digestion coefficients were determined for each ration for dry matter, crude protein and gross energy. Animal live weight gain in the digestion study was approximately 50% lower, when compared with the performance of animals in the feeding trial.