Use of sunflower meal and peas in diets for fattening bulls

The aim of the presented trial was to find out if the replacement of soja-meal by sunflower-meal or a combination of sunflower-meal and peas has an effect on fattening and slaughtering performance of young bulls. 98 Simmental. calves were divided into 6 groups and were fed ad libitum with pelleted complete diet. The trial was started at an age of 125 days, at an age of 365 days the animals were slaughtered, some on the 425th day of life. There were no significant differences in live weights on the 365th and 425th day of life. On the 365th day live weights were as follows: K 432,0 kg, I 448,5 kg, 11431,3 kg, III 442A kg, IV 435,0 kg und V 446,7 kg. On the 425th day of life weights were: K 510,4 kg, 1515,3 kg, 11518,2 kg, 111497,0 kg, IV 49 1,0 kg and V 524,1 kg. Regarding crude protein intake there were partly significant differences between the groups, but not within the traits dry matter and energy intake. Crude protein sources have also no significant influence on traits of fattening and slaughtering performance. Only the length of the fattening period has a significant effect on traits like carcass weight, dressing percentage and share of bones. Sunflower-meal of hulled seed can as well be used in growing cattle as soya-meal, with the same effects.