| Abstract: | In 2018 we tested the influence of cereal straw length on the growth of beef bulls at the Žipo Lenart farm. In the experiment, we tested 32 bulls, which were divided into four cattle pens so that there were eight bulls in each pen. In all pens, bulls basically received the same feed meal with the straw of different lengths (2 cm, 3 cm, 5 cm, and untreated straw). The experiment was carried out for 3 months and during this period, we once a month carried out weighing of the bulls and measuring of the height of withers and the back. No statistically significant differences (P ≥ 0,05) were recorded in bulls during any period, not in weight, not in the height of the withers, height of the back and not in the daily gain. Additionally, we also monitored the behavior of animals, where we recorded which activity is carried out by a particular animal in the observed time. Bulls were observed according to a pre-prepared table three times a day for five minutes per animal. There were no statistically significant differences between individual forms of behavior (P ≥ 0,05) between groups. Statistically significant differences (P < 0,05) between the groups were observed at the number of chews of the cud per minute and the required time for one bolus, while the number of chews of the cud per bolus did not increase. The screening test was carried out to control the composition of the feed and to help determine if the animals are sifting through the feed. Following a screening test of the remainder of the feed, we observed deviations from the recommendations in the groups, fed with 5 cm long straw and in the control group. Those deviations were spotted in the top and the bottom sieve, because of the bulls’ sifting through the feed. |
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