ABSTRACT
Oats'| levels in rations for fattening Hereford steers

Claudio Rojas G.1, Adrián Catrileo S.1 y Francisco Aguilar G.2
 

Thirty spring born Hereford steers, 8-9 months old, were fed with five different rations of oat grain, rapeseed meal, rapeseed soap stock and red clover hay, at the Carillanca Exp. Sta. (INIA-Temuco). Oat grajn was included at 0% (TI). 17.5% (TII), 35% (TIII), 52.5% (TIV). and 70% (TV). on a D.M. basis. Red clover hay, rapeseed meal and rapeseed soap stock were used in different proportions to complete each ration. Besides, minerals were offered at 2%. The rations were isoproteic and isoenergetic. A randomized complete block design was used, according to initia! weight of the steem. Results showed that the increment of the oats proportion in the ration was associated with increases in intake, liveweight, conversion efficiency, and in the carcass variables, yielding percentage, sirloin area, and fat layer.

Keywords:
1 Estación Experimental Carillanca (INlA). Casilla 58-D, Temuco, Chile.
2 Universidad de Chile. Casilla 1004, Santiago. Chile.