Effects of feeding crushed brown and unhulled rice on growth, feed utilization, and meat production of Japanese Black steers

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding crushed rice on growth, feed utilization, and meat production of Japanese Black steers. Twelve cattle (11 months old) were allocated into two groups, one fed with formula feed, fermented TMR containing whole crop rice silage, soybean curd residue, and rice straw, and the other fed with ration replacing 5-25％ of the formula feed with crushed rice (mixture of 70％ brown rice and 20％ unhulled rice in a DM basis) in a FM basis according to animal age were prepared. Body weight, average daily weight gain and feed conversion were not different between the dietary treatments. Temporary reduction in ruminal pH of the group fed with crushed rice was observed within the standard range in late fattening period. Blood constituents, carcass characteristics and meat quality were not affected by the dietary treatment. It is concluded that gradual replacing of 5-25％ of the formula feed with crushed rice according cattle age does not affect growth, feed utilization and meat production of Japanese Black steers.