Studies on Kedah-Kelantan cattle I. Effect of improved nutrition on growth

C. Devendra and T. Lee Kok Choo

Abstract

Paper 1 reports the effect of improved nutrition on performance, in a programme of research on the productive capacity in the indigenous Kedah-Kelantan cattle. Thirty Kedah-Kelantan heifers about 6 to 8 months of age were allocated by weight to five treatments based on dry matter intake from Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) fed ad libitum with or without concentrates fed to appetite individually in the following grass:concentrate ratios: 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100. This trial lasted for 518 days. In addition, Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) was compared with Napier grass in an additional treatment on 5 group-fed heifers for 427 days. Changes in body measurements, live weight gain, efficiency in feed conversion (EFC) were measured. There were statistically significant (P<0.01) differences between treatments in daily live weight gain and EFC. The highest live weight gain of 339 g. and best EFC were recorded on the 50:50 grass:concentrate ratio. However, treatments had no significant effects on total live weight gain. On the 75:25 ratio the most number of visible heat cycles were observed and there were no differences in feeding Napier or Guinea grass. Heart girth, height at withers, body length and hip width were significantly correlated (P<0.0i) with live weight. Maximum live weight gain was achieved at about 8 months age. In relation to tissue growth and carcase finish however, the weight and age of slaughter of these cattle appears to be about 220 kg. and 20 months. Physical maturity and first oestrus appears to be reached around 10 to 12 months age. The results together, when compared to previous data demonstrated an improvement of 80.3% in live weight at 24 months age, 733.8%,in daily live weight grain from 6 to 24 months age and 94.4% in age at first service. The importance of improved nutrition on performance, and possibilities of increasing national beef production from Kedah-Kelantan by as much 80% and its significance of self-sufficiency are emphasised.

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