Abstract 602

Butterworth,-MH; Chintsanya,NCC; Phiri,-KMJ; Mitengo-Gama,-PWS

Univ. Malawi, Bunda College of Agriculture, Lilongwe, Malawi.

Tropical-Agriculture. 1984, 61: 1, 25-28; 11 ref.

The operation of the stall-feeder scheme for beef production in Malawi is described. In 4 trials steers fed on a daily supplement of 200 g meat-and-bone meal and 60 g bone meal gained significantly more than those given a basal diet of 64% 'madeya' (maize hominy feed), 20% ground maize, 15% poultry excreta and 1% NaCl. There was no advantage in increasing poultry excreta to 20%. Cattle given two levels of madeya, or madeya + meat-and-bone meal, or bone meal as a supplement to maize stover and bean haulms gained significantly more than those given maize stover and bean haulms without a supplement, but the roughages alone supported a small liveweight gain. The efficiency of concentrate utilization was greater with the lower level of madeya than with the other treatments. Soaking maize stover for 2 h prior to feeding did not improve growth rate or increase the feed intake compared with steers given the untreated maize stover.