TRITICALE AND WHEAT IN DIETS FOR FINISHING CATTLE

In two experiments, intake, growth rate and conversion ratio of young cattle fed triticale or wheat mixed with milled hay were compared. In experiment 1, diets containing 40, 60 and 80 % milled grain were fed. In experiment 2, milled and whole grain were compared in diets containing 80 % of triticale or wheat. The cattle were slaughtered on attaining 5mm fat cover over the 13th rib. Growth rate was similar on all diets but intake and feed conversion ratio were higher on lower proportions of grain. Milling triticale did not affect intake, growth or conversion ratio to carcass weight while milling wheat resulted in similar growth rate but lower intake and feed conversion ratio. There were no cases of rumenitis or liver abscesses. Key words: cattle, triticale, wheat, milling