[Studies on the use of decanted fat-solids from pig feces in the nutrition of fattening cattle. 2. Comparison of various types of rations].

A 315-day feeding trial (F 3) was carried out with fattening bulls (starting weight: approximately 125 kg per animal) during which 4 groups of 7 bulls each were fed 4 mixtures of pelleted food : (1) concentrates (2) concentrates + 50% straw meal (3) concentrates + 25% straw meal and 25% decanted solids from pig faeces (4) concentrates + 50% decanted solids from pig faeces. The bulls in group 1 and 4 received 1 kg of meadow hay per day in addition to the pellets. Within the framework of a calf-raising trial the animals had already received pellets containing straw and other solids. The average daily weight increases of the bulls in these 4 groups were 1032 g, 1052 g. 1040 g and 844 g per animal/day. The energy intake per g weight increase was 3.36, 3.07, 3.11 and 3.85 kEFr units; the requirements for food concentrates amounted to 4.60, 3.23 3.23 and 3.47 kg of dry matter per kg of weight increase. The resons presumed to account for the unfavourable results in group 4 are discussed in some detail. A further trial (F 4) was performed with a group of 20 bulls for a period of 252 days to test the results obtained with ration 3. Depending on the liveweights of the animals the bulls were fed rations containing 20%, 25% or 30% of straw meal and solids from pig faeces. For the entire period of the trial the daily weight increases were 1041 g per animal: the energy intake per kg weight gain was 4.05 kEFr units and 4.03 kg of dry matter of concentrate were necessary to produce 1 kg of weight increase. The results obtained in the two trials indicate that solids from pig faeces may be used, in limited quantities, as food component in the feeding of fattening cattle.