EFFECT OF MASH OR PELLETED SUPPLEMENTS CONTAINING CRAB MEAL ON INTAKEAND WEIGHT GAINS OF BEEF-CATTLE

Yearling beef steers showed a progressive decrease in rate of gain as crab meal replaced 33, 66 and 100% of supplemented soybean meal. The c rab meal was highly resistant to degradation in sacco but was well dig ested in the whole tract of sheep. Rumen fluid from sheep fed crab mea l was as effective for fiber digestion in vitro as that from sheep fed a similar diet without crab meal. It was concluded that the lower fee d intake observed with cattle fed crab meal was not due to inhibition of fiber digestion. In a second experiment, there was no improvement i n cattle performance when the crab meal was treated with the antioxida nt ethoxyquin. Oxidation of crab meal that could lead to rancidity doe s not appear to be a problem, as adding ethoxyquin did not affect catt le performance. In a third experiment, pelleting a crab meal-alfalfa m eal supplement increased intake from 1.22 kg d(-1) to 1.64 kg d(-1) (P < 0.01), and pelleting a crab meal-barley supplement increased intake from 1.55 kg d(-1) to 1.80 kg d(-1) (P < 0.05). In a fourth experimen t, pelleting the crab meal supplement again largely overcame the depre ssing effects of crab meal on intake and weight gains. It was conclude d that crab meal is a useful supplement for young cattle, provided the y can be induced to consume it. Pelleting the crab meal supplement is one way of overcoming the lower intake and weight gains associated wit h feeding it as a mash.