The Growth Rate of Weaner Madura Bulls Fed Organic Zinc in the Concentrate Feed and Elephant Grass
Risa Antari1, Alif Shabira Putri1, Angga Maulana Firmansyah1, Wahyuni Indah Wulansari1, Yenny Nur Anggraeny1, Noor Hudhia Krishna1, Hartati1, and Mariyono1

1National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong, Kabupaten Bogor 16915, West Java-Indonesia.

Abstract

Zinc-lysin is an organic mineral that is essential. This research aimed to examine the use of organic-sourced zinc to improve the growth rate of weaner Madura bulls. Twenty-four weaner Madura bulls were sourced from the heard at Beef Cattle Research Station that allotted to one of four treatments (A: null, B: 10 mg/kg dietary DM, C: 30 mg/kg dietary DM and D: 50 mg/kg dietary DM) with six replicates, all bulls offered elephant grass and concentrate diet (containing 13% crude protein and >70% total digestible nutrient). Bulls were measured (liveweight, body condition score, and hip height) every two weeks, blood samples were collected at the start and end of the experiment for metabolite and hormonal analyses. The results showed that no supplement effects were detected on liveweight gain, body condition score, and hip height gain (P>0.05). The treatments also did not increase the concentration of insulin-like growth factor-1 and triiodothyronine. Thus, weaner Madura bulls in the current experiment had a rapid growth rate although there was no supplement effect detected probably because not enough amount of zinc-lysine was provided. There was an improvement in the IGF-1 and T3 hormone concentrations in circulation after the experimental period which indicated a rapid growth of the bulls.

Keywords: concentrate, grass, Madura cattle, organic-zinc, supplement.

Topic: Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology