Dietary Protein Requirement for Maintenance and Growth of Southern Thai Indigenous Cattle

O. Pimpa, B. Khamseekhiew, B. Pimpa

Faculty of Science and Industrial Technology, Prince of Songkla University, Surat thani, 84100, Thailand.

Abstract: This experiment was conducted to study protein requirements for maintenance and growth of Southern indigenous cattle. Feeding trial was conducted. Sixteen indigenous male cattle initial average body weight of 134.2 ± 30.52 kg with about 2 years old were given a difference levels of protein in feed at 7.3, 8.3, 10.3 and 12.5% with the same amount of energy intake (219.2± 4.59 kcal/kgW^0.75 /day) for 90 days.  The dietary intakes of DM and GE were not significantly different (p>0.05). The nitrogen intake was significantly different (p<0.01) ranged from 1.05 to 1.86 g N/kg W^0.75/day. The average dairy gain (ADG) was significantly (p<0.01) increased with an increase level of protein, ADG were 393.06, 497.50, 756.94 and 791.03 g/d in animal given 7.3, 8.3, 10.3 and 12.5% CP, respectively. The relationship between the N intake and ADG was: N intake = 0.356 ADG + 3.263 (R² = 0.662). The protein requirement for maintenance and growth rate at 1 g /kgW^0.75/day of growing male indigenous cattle was 0.522 g N/kg W^0.75/day (3.26 g CP/kg W^0.75/day) and 0.0569 g N/ kg W^0.75/day (0.356 g CP/kg W^0.75/day), respectively. Increasing protein intake to 65% (from 7.3 to 12.5% CP) was efficient in term of feed conversion rate (FCR) and body weight gain (p<0.01).

Keywords: Thai southern indigenous cattle, Protein requirement.

Pages: 155 – 160 | Full PDF Paper