Abstract

OJEDA, F et al. Evaluation of the use of fresh or preserved citrus pulp in diets for bull fattening. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2010, vol.33, n.2, pp. 1-1. ISSN 0864-0394.

With the objective of evaluating the weight gains in bulls that consumed fresh or preserved citrus pulp, a study was conducted for 120 days in two fattening farms of the Citrus Fruit Firm «Victoria de Girón», in Jagüey Grande, Matanzas. Both units had 400 animals and the prevailing breed was commercial Zebu. The management consisted in restricted grazing (four hours) and confinement (20 hours). Pasture availability was 5 and 3 kg DM/animal/day for the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. The diets consisted in green forage and fresh or ensiled citrus pulp ad libitum. In addition, there was supplementation with 0,5; 1,0; 1,1 and 0,05 kg/animal/day of hay, fermented corn residues, wheat bran and mineral salt, respectively; urea was supplied according to feeding balances. Roughage intake and weight gain were measured. Previous feeding balances were made as well as retrospective ones at the end of the study. The highest forage intake (8,1 vs 7,7 kg/animal/day) was obtained in the diet with fresh citrus pulp. The gains were 0,641 vs 0,633 kg/animal/day for the animals that consumed fresh citrus pulp and silage, respectively. The feed conversion was high (11,4 and 11,6 for the animals which were supplied fresh and ensiled citrus pulp, respectively). This evaluation proved that under equal conditions, there were no large productive differences when using any of the two supply forms.

Keywords : Citrus; fattening; silage.

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