ABSTRACT


CLAUDIO WERNLI K.1, JUAN JOSÉ ROMERO T.2 Y HERNÁN CABALLERO D.3
 

This research project studied the influence of protein supplementation (1.5 Kg. rape-seed oil meal per steer daily) on rations based in corn silwge and hay for fattening steers (436 Kg.) in dry lots.
Parall to this trial, digestibility of the same rations fed to steers were tested with sheep.
Intake, nutritive value, and efficiency of D. M. of the rations were increased with the addition of protein supplement, which resulted in a highly significant liveweight increase (P < 0.01) in relation to those obtained with the non supplemented rations.
Rations that induded protein supplement almost fulfilled all nutritive requirements for live-weight increase of 1 Kg. (2.2 lb) per day. Rape-seed oil meal fed at a level of 1.5 Kg. per animal daily appeared to have no detrimental effect on animal performance.
Finally, under conditions of this trial, winter fattening of steers appears to be uneconomical.

Keywords:
1 Ingeniero Agrónomo, Proyecto Producción Animal, Estación Experimental La Platina, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Profesor Auxiliar Cátedra Alimentación, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Chile.
2 Ingeniero Agrónomo M. S., Proyecto Producción Animal, Estación Experimental La Platina, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Profesor Auxiliar Cátedra Producción Lechera, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Católica de Chile.
3 Ingeniero Agrónomo Ph. D., Coordinador del Programa Ganadería del Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Pr