| dc.description | The article addresses the usage of several by-products from the processing of agricultural products which might possibly be used for added roughage value in cattle rations. Pastures, hays, silages and crop residues such as straw, chaff and corn stalks are the nutritional backbone of rations for cow herds and growing calves. These same roughage may be an expensive and a troublesome source of energy and protein, when compared to grains, in finishing rations. Roughage in conventional forms do not lend themselves to labor-saving mechanization in feedlots. The lower digestibility of roughage, especially when fed with grains, leaves more excreted waste to be handled and disposed of. Pastures, hays, silage and crop residues such as straw, chaff and corn stalks are the nutritional backbone of rations for cow herds and growing calves. These same roughage may be an expensive and a troublesome source of energy and protein, when compared to grains, in finishing rations. The lower digestibility of roughage, especially when fed with grains, leaves more excreted waste to be handled and disposed of. Several substitutes such as oyster shells, plastic cubes and even sawdust were used with varying degrees of success. Two trials were made on this: Experiment C-23 and Experiment C-25. The by-products from the processing of flax straw for the paper industry were useful as substitutes for most of the alfalfa in high-energy rations for finishing cattle. | |
