GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SIMMENTAL STEERS FED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH NATURAL MINERAL ADDITIVES
The effect of Sapropel and Saproverm “Energy of Etkul” natural mineral supplements on the young cattle growth and development has been studied. The animals of experimental groups were fed the above preparations as the supplement to their basic diet, in the dose of 0.75 and 0.95 g per kg live weight a day. The additives were mixed with concentrated feeds and fed to the animals at morning feeding during the period of 15 days. The experimental animals were fed the above diets starting with the age of 6 months up to their slaughter, with the intervals between feeding the supplemented rations being 15 days. It was found that inclusion of Sapropel and Saproverm “Etkul Energy” into the steers’ diets contributed to fuller realization of the genetic potentials of beef productivity, which was confirmed in a more intensive process of muscular tissue accumulation in their organism. The natural mineral supplements stimulated the enhancement of absolute and average daily live weight gain of steers.