Growth performance in beef cattle fed rations containing dried tomato pomace

Abstract

There is evidence that the feeding of rations containing dried tomato pomace to beef steers inhibits ruminal fermentation and bacterial protein synthesis. These effects would be expected to reduce growth performance in growing beef steers. In this feeding trial, growing beef steers were fed total mixed rations in which soybean meal was replaced by dried tomato pomace. Increasing dietary inclusion levels of dried tomato pomace reduced final body weight in a linear, dose-dependent fashion. The inclusion levels of 3.2, 8.0 and 11.2% lowered final body weight by 2.4, 3.8 and 4.0%, respectively. Dried tomato pomace in the ration had a statistically significant, linear, diminishing effect on feed intake. The highest level of tomato pomace in the ration reduced feed intake by 6.5%. Feed conversion ratio was increased by feeding dried tomato pomace. Blood urea concentrations were raised. It is suggested that dried tomato pomace reduced growth by lowering feed intake which was caused by inhibition of ruminal fermentation. A simultaneous decrease in ruminal bacterial protein synthesis may have contributed to the observed decrease in growth. There may be place for dried tomato pomace in ruminant nutrition but only if the negative effects can be negated by appropriate ration formulation. © Medwell Journals, 2010.