MAIZE GLUTEN AND RAPESEED MEAL AS PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS TO BARLEY OR WHEAT FOR INTENSIVELY FINISHED CHAROLAIS-CROSS BULLS

Four diets, barley/proprietary protein concentrate (B/PC), barley/maiz e gluten (B/MG), barley/rapeseed meal (B/RSM) and wheat/rapeseed meal (W/RSM) were formulated to contain 165 g crude protein and 13.0 MJ met abolizable energy per kg dry matter. In experiment 1, all four diets w ere offered ad libitum to Charolais X Friesian bulls from 187 kg live weight to slaughter at about 488 kg live weight. In experiment 2, the B/PC and B/RSM were offered ad libitum to Charolais X (Hereford X Frie sian) bulls from 222 kg live weight to slaughter at about 491 kg live weight. There were no significant differences between treatments in da ily live-weight gain, percentage fat and lean in the live animal, slau ghter weight or days on experiment in either experiment. In experiment 1, the carcasses from bulls given B/PC were 14 kg heavier than carcas ses from bulls given W/RSM (P < 0.05), but only 10 and 7 kg heavier th an from bulls given B/MG and B/RSM respectively (P > 0.05). The killin g-out proportion of bulls given B/PC was significantly greater (P < 0. 05) than bulls given B/RSM. In experiment 2, cal cass weights were sim ilar but the killing-out proportion of bulls given B/PC were again gre ater (P < 0.001). It is concluded that B/MG and B/RSM were as effectiv e as B/PC as finishing diets and that wheat can be successfully substi tuted for barley, wizen offered with rapeseed meal.