Effects of supplementing cassava product silage on feed intake, digestibility and live weight gain of crossbred Limousine bulls fed on a maize (Zea mays) stover based diet

Context Feeding cassava waste products in beef cattle diets presents a viable opportunity for adoption by smallholder farmers in Indonesia. Aim This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of substituting copra meal with cassava leaves and tuber silage on feed intake, digestibility, and production characteristics. Methods Twenty crossbred Limousine bulls were assigned to a randomized complete block design with five treatments and four blocks based on initial liveweight (LW). The dietary treatments included a basal diet with increasing (10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30%) levels of cassava leaf and tuber silage (CLTS) with a corresponding decrease (40%, 35%, 30%, 25% and 20%) in copra meal. The variables measured included nutrient intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen fluid profile, LW gain (LWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed cost per gain, and income over feed cost (IOFC). Key results Including between 10% and 30% CLTS in a balanced ration for crossbred Limousine bulls was effective for achieving high intakes (up to 2.3% LW) and high LW gains of between 1.28 and 1.53 kg/day. Feeding 15% CLTS resulted in optimal rumen fluid profile with improved volatile fatty acid production. The FCR was highest in treatments up to 20% inclusion. There were no significant differences in IOFC with inclusion of CLTS. Conclusion This study demonstrated the use of CLTS as being potentially economically beneficial to cattle production under smallholder farming practices. This silage can be successfully included at a rate of up to 30% in a ration, which is practical and safe for smallholder farmers. Implications Formulating rations with cassava tuber and leaf silage can reduce agricultural waste products such as cassava peel and leaf, and be beneficial in cattle fattening systems.