Assessing feed and feeding protocol of the beef cattle in Agropark, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Kampus Jeli

The primary objectives of this study were to evaluate the current feed and feeding protocol for the beef cattle and to determine the nutritional content of the feeds in Agropark, UMKKJ. The protocol survey for two time periods; time period 1 (TP1) from 1st May 2014 until 11th June 2014, and time period 2 (TP2) from 7th September 2014 until 18th October 2014 was done to analyse the feeding schedule of the feed and supplements for the beef cattle. Body condition score (BCS) of six beef cows were taken after each time period to relate the feed and feeding protocol towards their body condition. The feeds supplied for the beef cattle were sampled for proximate analysis in order to find the gross energy (GE), dry matter (DM), moisture, crude fibre (CF), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), ash, and nitrogen free extract (NFE) content. Lastly, a survey was done to 40 respondents to conclude on the feed and feeding constraints faced by the Agropark management. The data from protocol survey, BCS analysis and proximate analysis were analysed using student's t-test while the data from feed and feeding constraints survey was analysed using IBM software package for statistical analysis (SPSS) to find the reliability by Cronbach's alpha. The result of the study showed that the feeding protocol differs in each and between both time periods. The protocol was observed to have inconsistent feeding frequency, schedule, delivery time, and amount; with improper feeding strategy and equipment, and lack of additional supplements. The result of the BCS analysis for TP1 was in average 4.33 ± 0.52 (borderline) and decreased to 3.33 ± 0.82 (thin) for TP2 which proves that the protocol depreciate and caused the decrease of BCS for the beef cows. The proximate analysis results show that the natural pasture (NP) contained 3957 cal/g GE, 23.8236 ± 0.30% DM, 76.1765 ± 0.30% moisture, 24.3635 ± 0.99% CF, 7.4532 ± 0.09% CP, 1.1684 ± 0.06% EE, 12.2454 ± 0.08% ash, and 54.7695 ± 1.00% NFE. The palm kernel extract feed pellet (PKEFP) contained 3905 cal/g GE, 90.0600 ± 0.05% DM, 9.9400 ± 0.05% moisture, 28.8753 ± 1.82% CF, 9.4644 ± 0.13% CP, 4.2515 ± 0.17% EE, 9.8500 ± 0.14% ash, and 47.5588 ± 1.84% NFE. The comparison of the NP with common cow grass and PKEFP with palm kernel meal (PKM) showed that both feeds have poorer quality. For the feed and feeding protocol constraints survey, the top five constraints ranked were low quality of feed, lack of high quality forage seeds, land degradation and low DM yield, poor recording system, and poor storage facilities/techniques. These constraints coincide with the previous analyses. The Cronbach's alpha value was 0.921. It is recommended that the management of Agropark needs to improve the feed and feeding protocol from the identified weaknesses.