Programmed feeding response on the growing performance and blood biochemical profile of Hanwoo beef heifers during summer and winter season

College

College of Science

Department/Unit

Biology

Document Type

Article

Source Title

Journal of Animal Production Advances

Volume

5

Issue

11

First Page

788

Last Page

793

Publication Date

2015

Abstract

Season is one of the important factor affecting the performance and health of beef cattle. Programmed feeding is a way to determine net energy equations that can be used to evaluate the amount of feeds required to attain the necessities for maintenance and specific target rate of gain. The study investigated the effect of varying programmed feeding system and nutrition suitable under summer and winter environmental conditions on the performance and blood biochemical profile of Hanwoo beef heifers. A total of thirty-two Hanwoo beef heifers weighing 250-350 kg body weight were divided into two time frames: summer and winter season. Each group were further subdivided into four treatment groups programmed to attain a specific daily gain (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 kg) and evaluated their performance and blood biochemical profile. Results showed that during winter and summer season, 200 grams daily gain can be attained through programmed feeding obtaining optimum growth performance exhibited by high feed efficiency. Also, total blood cholesterol and BUN can be much affected by programmed feeding during both seasons. Cortisol levels indicating stress in animals was higher during cold stress compared to heat stress. All of these findings may suggest the optimum feed intake management to attain performance advantages to beef cattle feeders during summer and winter and the physiological responses attributed to it.

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Digitial Object Identifier (DOI)

10.5455/japa.20151111075602

Disciplines

Biology

Keywords

Beef cattle—Feeding and feeds—Climatic factors

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