The use of ensilaged soybean forage (Glycine max L. ) replacing Varisme 06 in the diets for raising beef cattle
A Latin square experiment was designed with 4 treatments and 4 periods on 4 growing cattle (252± 54 kg) to study on the effect of ensilaged soybean forage replacing Varisme 06 (Pennisetum americanum x P. purpureum) in the diets on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention. Each experimental periodwas last 20 days. In the first 10 days, cattle were adapted to the new diets, and the next 5 days the samplings were done. There was a rest period of 5 days between experimental periods and the cattle were fed Para grass. The treatments were ES0, ES10, ES20, and ES30 corresponding to the ensilaged soybean forage replacing Varisme 06 at a level of 0, 10, 20, and 30% (DM basis,) respectively. While Varisme 06 grass was fed ad libitum.
Results showed that feed intake and apparent digestibility coefficients for crude protein were increased by supplementation with ensilaged soybean forage (5.19; 5.66; 6.2 and 6.25 kg DM/day) and (60.1; 68.5; 71.0 and 71.9%), respectively. The results were found that the replacement of Varisme 06 grass by ensilaged soybean forage levels were increased intake and nutrient digestibility of cattle among different treatments. Numerically, the replacing ensilaged soybean forage to Varisme 06 grass at a level of 30% gave better results in nutrient digestibility. A replacement of ensilaged soybean forage supported better growth in cattle and was an effective way to make use of what is otherwise an by -products from grown.
