title: Effect of cull potatoes in the diet for finishing Belgian Blue double-muscled cows.
abstract: The use of culled potatoes was investigated in Belgian Blue double-muscled finishing cows, confined in tie stalls. The control diet (Treatment 1) consisted of concentrate and maize silage (50/50 on a dry matter (DM) basis). Potatoes either replaced 60% maize silage (Treatment 2) or 60% concentrate (Treatment 3). Diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous. They were fed ad libitum. Approximately 18 kg potatoes were fed daily in Treatments 2 and 3. Daily gain was not significantly altered; it decreased from 1.09 kg (Treatment 1) to 1.04 kg (Treatment 2) or increased to 1.20 kg (Treatment 3), although potatoes stimulated DM intake by 5% to 8% (P < 0.05). Feed conversion was unaffected in comparison with the control diet, when expressed in terms of DM, but energy efficiency (MJ/kg live weight gain) was substantially lower for Treatment 2 compared with Treatment 1 (89.9 v. 79.0; P = 0.046). Carcass weight, grading and composition were not affected by treatments, but potatoes increased dressing percentage (P = 0.009). Treatment had no significant effect on meat quality parameters. However, potatoes (Treatments 2 and 3) tended to decrease moisture content (P = 0.090) and tended to increase drip loss (P = 0.059) compared with Treatment 1. Because of a better animal performance and a lower feed cost, it is most appropriate to use potatoes as a replacement for concentrate. Feeding large amounts of potatoes besides concentrate may have an adverse effect on the fibrousness of the diet, resulting in a tendency (-5%) for a reduced daily gain and a lower energy efficiency (P < 0.05).
authors.affiliation: ILVO-Animal Sciences Unit, Melle, Belgium. leo.fiems@ilvo.vlaanderen.be
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Fiems
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: De Boever
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vanacker
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: De Brabander
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards; D012820:Silage / Q000032:analysis; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000378:metabolism*; D015430:Weight Gain; D003313:Zea mays / Q000378:metabolism