Performance of Brahman and Simbrah steers under two feeding startegies

Cattle feedlot fattening is practiced so that animals gain more flesh in a shorter period of time before these are marketed. Raisers have to use appropriate breeds of animals and feeding strategies to get maximum economic benefits from their practice. Thus, Soriano et al. (DA-NOMIARC) evaluated the feedlot performance of Brahman and Simbrah (50% Simmental x 50% Brahman) steers using two feeding combination. The feeding combination used were 60% Napier Soilage + 40% concentrate and 60% corn silage + 40% concentrate. The study was conducted from June 2004 to January 2005 at the Malaybalay Stock Farm, Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. Findings of the study revealed the following: The mean final weights of the animals were 440.6 kg (Simbrah) and 420 kg (Brahman). The difference in final weight was not significant. The feeding combination significantly affected the final weights of the animals with corn silage-fed group having higher average final weights than the napier silage-fed group (453 kg vs 408 kg). Non-significant results were observed in the interaction of breed and feeding indicating that the combined effect had not affected the final weights of the animals. Simbrah cattle had higher total weight gains (146.34kg) than Brahman cattle (130.84kg) but the difference was insignificant. The average daily gain (ADG) of Simbrah (0.61kg) and Brahman (0.55kg) cattle was not significantly affected by the kind of breeds. However, significant difference was observed on the effect of feeding combination on ADG where the corn silage-fed group had 0.64kg while the napier silage-fed group had 0.52kg. ROI was highest in Simbrah fed with corn silage (37%) followed by Brahman fed with corn silage (30%), Simbrah fed with napier soilage (27%), and Brahman fed with napier silage (26%).