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Kale for beef production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

A. Macdearmid
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
G. M. Innes
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
P. E. V. Williams
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
M. Kay
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
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Abstract

Effects on animal health and productivity of offering diets composed wholly or partly of kale to Hereford × Friesian steers were examined in two growth trials and a digestibility trial. Rates of daily gain (kg), daily dry-matter intake (kg) and coefficients of dry-matter digestibility by 24 steers offered proportions of 0·50 or 0·75 kale with rolled barley or 100 kale were respectively 1·05, 7·5, 0·76; 0·72, 5·8, 0·72; and 0·48, 5·3, 0·70. Of 48 steers given 0·25 or 0·50 kale with rolled barley, fodderbeet or swede turnips, the food intakes and daily gains of those offered barley were greatest on the higher proportion of kale whereas with fodderbeet and turnips the food intakes and gains were higher (P<005 and P<0·01) respectively on the lower proportion of kale. Although daily intakes of S-methylcysteine sulphoxide were high, reaching 0·25 and 0·33 g per kg body weight in trials 1 and 2 respectively, and moderate changes in blood metabolism occurred, there were no cases of haemolytic anaemia. Steers given only kale produced the poorest daily live-weight gain and the results suggested that the inclusion of kale should be limited to 0·50 of the total diet.

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Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1982

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