The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels of mixed silage of alfalfa and corn straw on growth performance, slaughter performance, meat quality and breeding benefits of Simmental beef cattle. 60 healthy Simmental (fourth generation) cattle with an average body weight of (380±10.25kg) were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups with 12 cattles in each group. The experimental beef cattle were fed with the same composition of the concentrate, and the forage was made by mixed silage of alfalfa and corn straw. The content of alfalfa in groupsⅠ(control group), Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ was 0%, 15%, 25%, 35% and 45%, respectively. The pre-trial period lasted for 15 days and the experimental period lasted for 90 days. The results showed that the average daily feed intake of groups Ⅴ and Ⅳ was 12.24kg and 12.03kg, and the average daily weight gain of groups Ⅴ and Ⅳ was 1420g and 1370g, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of groupsⅠ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ (P<0.05). The ratio of feed to gain in groups Ⅴ and Ⅳ was 8.62 and 8.78, respectively, which were significantly lower than that in groups Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in slaughter rate, net meat rate, water loss rate, tenderness and pH value among all groups (P>0.05). The eye muscle area of groups Ⅴ and Ⅳ was 84.06 and 83.63, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of groups Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ (P<0.05). The crude protein in groups Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ was 22.33%, 22.86%, 23.73%, 25.55% and 26.94%, respectively, and the lean meat percentage was 59.66%, 60.83%, 61.57%, 64.15% and 66.37%, respectively. The marbling was 2.83, 3.15, 3.21, 3.42, 3.58, respectively. There was no significant difference between groups Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ (P>0.05), no significant difference between groups Ⅳ and Ⅴ(P>0.05), but there was significant difference between groupsⅤand Ⅳ and groups Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ (P<0.05). Compared with group Ⅰ, the average daily gross profit of group Ⅱ, group Ⅲ, group Ⅳ and group Ⅴ increased by 2.10 yuan, 2.34 yuan, 3.81 yuan and 4.36 yuan, respectively. In conclusion, different levels of mixed silage of alfalfa and corn straw can improve the growth performance, slaughter performance, meat quality and breeding benefits of Simmental beef cattle. Among them, the mixed silage made by adding 35%-45% alfalfa has the best effect on feeding beef cattle, and when the proportion of alfalfa reaches 45%, all feeding indexes of beef cattle are optimal. |