Annual report: Jan-Dec 1983 [Sugarcane Feeds Centre]
1984
Three lifetime feeding trials implemented in 1982 were completed in 1983 and three others were initiated. All have been based on controlled levels of sugarcane fed in completely mixed diets for targeted performances in the different liveweight ranges. The A-7 Trial, the preliminary to the LCF trials, was completed in 1983 and "finishing" of animals was compared with lifetime supplemental energy (starch) feeding. Economic testing, i.e. income over feed cost, and feed use efficiency at different weight ranges, along with evaluation of the carcasses produced, provided critical information for refinements of the systems and also the impetus to increase by-product feed ingredients (energy and protein) usage. Such usage started in late 1981 was expanded based on results obtained. The amounts of the custom-manufactured supplements SFC40/40 and SFC20 (See Appendix 1 for the compositions) used were reduced. Due to the length of the lifetime feeding trials, generally over one year, succeeding trials were of necessity implemented based on partial completion and analysis of previous ones still ongoing. Effort was made to keep feeding developments systematic at all times. Feeding of male lambs began early in 1983. This provided an opportunity not only for exploration of the use of sugarcane for feeding sheep but also the potential for quicker evaluation of the life cycle feeding concept.
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