Effects of Total Mixed Rations on Ruminal Characteristics, Digestibility and Beef Production of Hanwoo Steers

Abstract

This experiment was carried out to compare the effects of feeding commercial formula feed and rice straw separately (control) versus a total mixed ration (TMR) on productivity of Hanwoo steers in late stage of fattening and on ruminal fermentation characteristics and digestibilities. Ruminal digesta from the cannulated cattle were sampled at 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 hour after feeding.The steers fed TMR consumed 7.4kg per day and there was no difference between feeding systems. Daily weight gain was not significantly (P>0.05) between feeding systems, however, TMR group showed lower daily gain than control group. The amount of feed consumption per kg weight gain was higher in TMR group than control group (10.5kg and 9.7kg, respectively), resulting in a greater efficiency of feed utilization for gain. In the result of appearance rates of quality grade A were 33% higher for TMR group than those in control group. Appearance rates of grade 1 showed 56% and 75% when fed the control and TMR, respectively.Digestibilities of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber and gross energy for TMR treatment were significantly higher (P<0.01) than those of control. Prior to feeding (0 h) and each subsequent hour, the TMR resulted in higher rumen pH (P<0.05) when compared with control ration. The concentration of NH3-N for TMR treatment maintained at higher level up to 8hr after feeding, especially increased up to 28.2mg/ during 1 2 hour which was two times (P<0.05) more than control. The amount of total VFA showed same trends between feeding systems. However, the ratios of branched chained fatty acid such as iso-butyric acid and iso-valeric acid for TMR treatment were significantly(P<0.01) higher than control for 3 5hr. Results showed that TMR in these trials is effective feeding system for fattening Hanwoo steers in the respect of ruminal characteristics, total tract digestibility and productivities.

Feeding strategies with total mixed ration and concentrate may improve feed intake and carcass quality of Hanwoo steers

“…Backfat thickness was in the order of SCF > TMRGSCF > TMREFSCF > TMRW, showing that long-term feeding of TMR resulted in thinner back fat (p < 0.05). These results are similar to the results from studies conducted by Cho et al [8] and Kim et al [7] but different from those by Kim et al [6] and Jin et al [15]. The effect of feeding TMR on the backfat thickness is not uniform, as discussed above, due to variations in the nutrient composition of TMR diets.…”

Effect of corn grain particle size on ruminal fermentation and blood metabolites of Holstein steers fed total mixed ration

“…slower meal time of TMR and soluble N content in TMR. In general, ruminant animals have a better appetite for concentrate rather than forage including TMR [ 24 ]. Also, high soluble N in feeds is closely related to high concentration of ruminal ammonia N [ 25 ].…”

The Effects of Total Mixed Ration Feeding with High Roughage Content on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Quality of Hanwoo Steers

“…In Korea, total mixed ration (TMR) has been widely used for dairy cattle, and was introduced to Hanwoo in the 2000s. Kim et al (2003) and Li et al (2003) investigated the effects of hay-based high-fiber mixed feed on intraruminal fermentation properties, digestion coefficient, and late fattening-stage growth of Hanwoo steers. Hanwoo cattle fed a mixture of rice straw and grass exhibited an increased growth rate and feed intake than cattle fed only rice straw ( Ahn et al, 1984 ; Cho et al, 1997 ), whereas no major effect on carcass characteristics was observed ( Cho et al, 1997 ).…”