Bypass fat enhances liveweight gain and meat quality but not profitability of smallholder cattle fattening systems based on oil palm frond
O. Pimpa
A C , B. Binsulong A , U. Pastsart A , B. Pimpa A and J. B. Liang B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Faculty of Innovative Agriculture and Fishery Establishment Project, Prince of Songkla University, 31 Moo 6 Surat-Nasan Road, Makham Tia, Mueang Surat Thani District, Surat Thani, 84000, Thailand.
B Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
C Corresponding author. Email: opimpa@hotmail.com
Animal Production Science - https://doi.org/10.1071/AN20202
Submitted: 23 April 2020 Accepted: 21 June 2021 Published online: 29 July 2021
Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2021 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
Context: Oil palm frond (OPF) is abundantly available throughout Southeast Asia and is a good source of forage for feedlot cattle, particularly during the dry and monsoon seasons when other forage options are limited. However, the use of OPF in ruminants feed is constrained by its complex fibrous structure and low digestibility.
Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of supplementation with bypass fat on growth, meat quality and economic returns in smallholder feedlot systems where Napier grass is replaced with OPF.
Methods: Sixteen Brahman × Charolais crossbred steers, 23 ± 2.0 months old and with initial bodyweight of 425 ± 59.9 kg (mean ± s.e.), were randomly allocated in a 2 × 2 factorial randomised complete-block design experiment with the following dietary treatments: (i) fresh chopped Napier grass-based total mixed ration (TMR; Napier grass–fat), (ii) Napier grass-based TMR + 5% bypass fat (Napier grass+fat), (iii) OPF-based TMR (OPF–fat) and (iv) OPF-based TMR + 5% bypass fat (OPF+fat). Feed intake, digestibility of the diets and average daily gain were measured. The cattle were slaughtered to determine carcass dressing percentage and meat quality. Costs and return of fattening cattle were estimated.
Key results: Despite higher intake, cattle fed OPF–fat had a lower bodyweight gain than did cattle fed grass-based diets due to lower digestibility. Bypass-fat supplementation increased the bodyweigh of cattle fed OPF but not of cattle fed Napier grass. Fat supplementation enhanced colour, backfat thickness, and fat content of meat in both the Napier grass- and OPF-based diets. However, replacing Napier grass with OPF reduced the net profit of smallholder feedlot systems, even with fat supplementation.
Conclusion: While fat supplementation increased liveweight gain and enhanced some aspects of meat quality, the increased feeding cost reduced net profit. Therefore, supplementation of OPF with bypass fat is not recommended for smallholder feedlots in developing countries.
Implications: Appropriate technology to reduce the feeding cost of OPF needs to be developed to make it an economically viable option for smallholder farmers.
Keywords: oil palm frond, total mixed ration, bypass fat, Napier grass, meat quality, feedlot cattle.
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