Jocel C. Castillo, Jephunneh P. Pascua, Archival B. Sabado, Jake C. Casbadillo, Fidelino R. Cabantac and Roberto C. Busania
ABSTRACT
This project was implemented to improve productivity of farmers engaged in beef cattle production through the verification of matured technology that are resource use efficient. Likewise, to fast track the transfer of such technology to intended users and other interested stakeholders.
It is a collaborative undertaking of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office No. 2 (DA-RFO 02) and the Department of Agriculture – Quirino Experiment Station (DA-QES). As a result, assessment of the potentials, opportunities and effects of urea treated rice straw was required to serve as a basis for alternative feed resource for animal production during lean months. Recipients of heifer loan from Lusod in Maddela, Dipintin in Nagtipunan, Lumagui in Saguday and Ligaya in Aglipay in Quirino Province were selected as farmer-cooperators. Eleven farmers were individually instructed and trained about beef cattle production in DA-QES. Six cows were used for the feeding trial with urea treated rice straw and five cows were used as control. The test animals were under gazing system with supplemental feeding of treated rice straw and the control animals were under pure grazing system. The animals fed with supplemental urea treated rice straw recorded average daily gain of 260 grams per day compared to control animals with only 170 grams per day. The direct cost of making 100 kilograms of urea treated rice straw on a plastic drum is Php 73.30. A drum of UTRS can be fed to cattle for four days and converting it into approximately 1.04 kilograms of meat. Therefore, local farmers can earn an estimate total of Php 149.00 for four days of feeding cattle.
This concludes that supplementary feeding of urea treated rice straw had significant contribution to the increased growth of beef cattle.
Keywords: Urea Treated Rice Straw, Beef Cattle, Feeding, Quirino
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NARCISO A. EDILLO, M.A.Ed.
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