Abstract
An experiment to determine the effects of feeding regimens and feeding periods on the growth performance characteristics of 200 post-weaning Senepol bulls was conducted in two trials over two years on St Croix, US Virgin Islands. Trial 1 feeding regimens were (1) native pasture ad libitum, (2) 1 % body weight of a 14% protein feed (PF14) and pasture, and (3) 2% body weight PF14 and hay or silage in a feedlot situation. Trial 2 feeding regimens were (1) native pasture ad libitum, (2) 1 % body weight of com and pasture, (3) 1 % body weight PF14 and pasture, and (4) 1.5% body weight PF14 and pasture. Feeding periods were for 112, 140 and 168 days in Trial 1 and 140 and 168 days in Trial 2. Results indicate that an increase in energy in the diet increased average daily gain (ADG) and final weight. A longer time on feed increased ADG and final weight in Trial 1 and final weight in Trial 2. A test period of 140 days appears to be of sufficient length to evaluate ADG of Senepol bulls.
