Growth patterns and feed utilization of yearling Butana heifers fed different energy levels

Abstract

present study involved twelve yearling Butana heifers maintained under 
the routine feeding system of Atbara Research Station ( no 
supplementation ) , were used in a growth trial of 364 days [ 2001/2002 ] . 
Heifers were similar in age and weight , assigned randomly to three groups 
each four animals . The heifers were fed on group basis , two supplemented 
groups and a control . The basal forage ration portion was fed as an equal 
amount daily dry matter intake { DMI ) of 2.431 kg / group . The 
supplementary feed supplied 11.43 and 8.32 MJ / kg , offered in daily 
intake of 4.34 and 4.01 kg DM / group to the heifers on the high energy diet 
{ HED ) and the low energy diet ( LED ) respectively . Heifers in HED showed 
significantly , overall feeding period the highest final body weight ( P < 0.01 
) , total weight gain ( P < 0.01 ) as well as the highest daily gain ( P < 0.05 ) 
estimates not energy of gain were 7.7 for HED treatment compared with 
those on the LED and control groups of 8.6 and 19.1 MJ / kg respectively . 
Dietary energy supplementation indicated an overall better rate growth 
performance for heifers on HED .