ABSTRACT
Evaluation of triticale in ruminant rations

Ernesto Jahn B.1, Agustín Vidal V.2, Walter Bonilla E.1, Mario Mellado Z.1 y Rubén Pulido F.1
 

Four levels of triticale were substituted for corn grain in complete isonitrogenous rations. The experiment was carried out at the Human Experiment Station (INIA-Los Angeles-Chile). Thirty two male Holstein calves, eight week old and 70 kg initial weight were assigned, in a complete randomized block design with 8 replicates, to four treatments. Treatments were 0, 25, 50 and 100% replacement of triticale for corn grain; the rations contained 63% of a basal ration. Liveweight gains were 0.863, 0.897, 0.940, and 0.848 kg/day (P > 0.05), for treatments with 0, 25, 50, and 100% triticale, respectively. Dry matter (D.M.) intakes were 2.84, 3.27, 3.10, and 3.19 (P > 0.05) kg/day and conversion rates were 3.29, 3.65, 3.36, and 3.76 (P > 0.05) kg D.M./kg liveweight gain, for the same treatments, respectively. D.M., crude protein, acid detergent fiber, and D.M. digestibility decreased with increasing levels of triticale.

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1 Estación Experimental Quilamapu (INIA), Casilla 426, ChiIlán, Chile.
2 Estación Experimental Humán (INIA), Casilla 767, Los Angeles, Chile.