EFFECTS OF DIETARY CALCIUM LEVELS ON PERFORMANCE OF KOREAN NATIVE CATTLE

EFFECTS OF DIETARY CALCIUM LEVELS ON PERFORMANCE OF KOREAN NATIVE CATTLE

Sixteen Korean native bulls weighing about 211 kg were randomly allotted to investigate the effect of different dietary calcium levels on performance. Feeding period was divided into growing period and fattening period for 180 days. Four calcium levels (0.44, 0.58, 0.72 and 0.86%) were used to each period. Bulls fed the diet containing 0.72% calcium had greater body weight gain and consumed more feed than bulls fed diets containing 0.44, 0.58 and 0.86% calcium and improved in feed efficiency. Bulls fed the diet containing 0.44% calcium were worst in performance. It can be concluded that Korean native bulls in growing and fattening period required no more than 0.72% calcium in diet that contained 0.55% phosphorus, and appeared that when ratio of calcium to phosphorus intake was 1.45, performance of Korean native bulls was most beneficial.