TY  - THES
T1  - Effects Of Concentrate And Mineral Supplementation On The Mineral Status And Performance Of A Beef Breeding Herd
A1  - Hew, Peng Yew
LA  - English
LA  - English
YR  - 1985
UL  - http://discoverylib.upm.edu.my/discovery/Record/oai:psasir.upm.edu.my:12268
AB  - Two experiments were conducted in Pahang, Malaysia.
In Experiment 1,175 Droughtmaster cows with nursing calves_
were randomly assigned to four treatments: (1) phosphorus
wineral block (PMB) + salt + concentrate (conc.); (2) PMB + salt;
(3) Dica1cium phosphate (DCP) + salt + conc.; and (4 ) salt +
conc. In Experiment 2,193 cows were randomly assigned to four
treatments: (1) Mineral meal (MM) + 0.68 kg conc.; (2) MM + .36
kg conc.; (3) salt only; and (4) MM only. Criteria for
evaluation were P, Ca, Mg, K, Cu, Fe and Zn content of blood,
forage ancl soil samples. Reproductive performance and body
weight changes were also recorded.
The trend for blood plasma minerals in Experiment 1 was
a general decline initially followed by an increase towards the
end of the trial for Ca, Mg and K. An increase in Fe and Cu was  initially observed, followed by a decline. Zinc plasma levels
declined throughout the experiment. The blood profile in Experiment
2 indicates deficiencies in plasma Mg, Fe and Cu.
Soil pH values ranged from 5 .0 to 6.9 in Experiment 1 and 4.0
to 6.9 in Experiment 2. Soil extractable macroelements were
adequate to meet the requirements of forages, except for P in both
experiments. Macroelements in forages appear to be adequate, but
some samples may be borderline for Cu and Zn in Experiment 1.
Improvement in cattle productivity from mineral supplementation
reflected mineral deficiencies in forages.
Pregnancy rates were favourably affected by concentrate
supplements in Experiment 1. Percentage calf crop and calf crop
weaned were likewise affected. Birth weights and calf weaning
weights were highest in Groups supplemented with minerals.
Results from Experiment 2 suggests that concentrates did not
enhance pregnancy rates, but calf crop was improved. Birth
weights, percentage calf crop weaned and weaning weight were
improved with mineral supplementation.
KW  - Beef cattle - Feeding and feeds
KW  - Minerals in animal nutrition
ER  -