Abstract 380

Gulbransen,-B

Queensland Dep. Primary Industries, Animal Research Inst., Fairfield Road, Yeerongpilly, Qld. 4105, Australia.

Australian-Journal-of-Experimental-Agriculture-and-Animal-Hu bandry. 1985, 25: 1, 4-8; 11 ref.

Experiments were made on yearling steers to estimate the potential of molasses-grain combinations as survival feeds in controlled weight-loss situations and in critical starvation situations. Steers with a mean ñ s.e. initial liveweight of 174 ñ 1.8 kg were fed for 77 days on rations ranging from 100% molasses-urea to 40% molasses-urea and 60% sorghum grain at rates equivalent to 1.5 or 3.0 kg of molasses-urea daily. Sorghum grain substituted for molasses-urea in the ratio 1.0:1.4 (w/w as fed). Mean liveweight change was -0.49 kg daily at the low level of feeding and -0.17 kg at the high level. In the second experiment the steers were fed freely for 29 days on molasses-urea, molasses-urea plus sorghum grain (60:40 or 40:60) and molasses-urea plus cottonseed oilmeal (85:15). Feed intakes increased as proportion of grain in the diet increased and there was an approximately 4-fold range of energy intakes. A supplement of 1 kg daily of hay had little effect on feed intake or on liveweight change. All groups except those fed on molasses-urea without added grain or cottonseed oilmeal made significant gains in liveweight. Molasses-grain and molasses-cottonseed oilmeal combinations should be suitable for 'crisis' feeding.