Effect of roughage type and duration of nutrient restriction on compensatory growth of crossbred bulls

The effect of nutrient restriction imposed by feeding poor quality roughages (hay for 6 months and maize stover for 6 or 3 months) and subsequent replenishment through concentrate feeding (3 kg/h/d for 120 days) on compensatory growth was studies using 18 crossbred (5/8 Friesian, 3/8 Zebu) bulls ranging in age from 1 to 2.5 years. During the restriction period, animals on hay gained 1.3 kg live weight per head, whereas those on maize stover for 6 months lost 22.8 kg per head. The difference in weight gains of animals restrictedly fed on maize stover for 3 and 6 months was not significantly (P<0.05) lower for animals fed on maize stover for 6 months compared to those fed on hay for the same duration. It is concluded that in areas where maize stover is available and livestock feed is scarce, especially during the dry season, animals may be fed on maize stover for 6 months followed by a realimentation periods of about 4 months.