BIOPRODUCTIVE AND ECONOMIC EFFECT OF THE CHELATED MINERAL PREMIX GIVEN TO FATTENING STEERS

Abstract

The experiment investigated the effect of the different dietary levels of the mineral premix based on phosphate frittes with chelated bioelements on the weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and economic efficiency of the Brown fattening steers. The animals were assigned to 3 experimental groups: group 1 with 0.1%, group 2 with 0.5% and group 3 with 1% chelated mineral premix in the compound feed next to the corn silage (basal diet). The ingested feeds were similar among the 3 groups, both for the bulk feed (free access) and for the compound feed (CF) as such or as dry matter. Group 1 had an intake of 9.43 kg, group 2 had 9.37 kg and group 3 had 9.42 kg/steer/day, which represents 6.65; 7.71 and 6.72 kg total DM/steer/day. The similar feed intakes produced similar gains: 1348 g in group 1, 1368 g in group 2 and 1347 g /steer/day in group 3, the differences not being statistically significant (P > 0.05). No significant differences were documented in the dry matter, energy and protein intake for the retention of one kg body weight. The use of the dietary chelated mineral premix in different proportions (0.1, 0.5 and 1%) given to fattening steers was economically efficient only for the 0.1% rate of inclusion.

Keywords

• mineral premix with chelated bioelements
• steers
• body weight
• feed conversion ratio
• economic efficiency