A comparison of liveweight gain of two groups of weaners of different entry liveweight in an ad libitum fodder beet feeding system for finishing beef cattle

Gibbs, Steven J.; Saldias, B.; White, Jackie A.; Walsh, D.; Stocker, Natalie; Trotter, Craig G.; Fisher, B.; Fisher, A.; Banks, B.; Hodge, Simon

Publication

A comparison of liveweight gain of two groups of weaners of different entry liveweight in an ad libitum fodder beet feeding system for finishing beef cattle

Authors

Gibbs, Steven J., Saldias, B., White, Jackie A., Walsh, D., Stocker, Natalie, Trotter, Craig G., Fisher, B., Fisher, A., Banks, B., Hodge, Simon

Date

2015

Type

Journal Article

Abstract

The use of fodder beet as the primary diet for finishing beef cattle is a recent New Zealand innovation. A system using ad libitum grazed fodder beet through autumn and winter to finish spring-born steers between 12 and 18 months old was developed. Fodder beet is a high energy yet comparatively low protein content feed, and the fodder beet system requires high liveweight gains on the crop and an early slaughter age for cost effective production. Lower liveweight weaners have a greater protein requirement for optimal weight gain, and the threshold entry liveweight for satisfactory performance in this feeding system was not yet established. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of the entry liveweight of weaners on liveweight gain in the fodder beet feeding system.