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Title: EVALUATION OF ANNUAL LESPEDEZA AS A PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT FOR STOCKER CATTLE GRAZING NATIVE TALL GRASS PRAIRIE DURING THE SUMMER

Author
item Phillips, William
item Rao, Srinivas
item Mayeux Jr, Herman

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2002
Publication Date: 2/1/2002
Citation: PHILLIPS, W.A., RAO, S.C., MAYEUX JR, H.S. EVALUATION OF ANNUAL LESPEDEZA AS A PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT FOR STOCKER CATTLE GRAZING NATIVE TALL GRASS PRAIRIE DURING THE SUMMER. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE. 2002. v. 80(Suppl.1): Abstract p. 4.

Interpretive Summary: Abstract only.

Technical Abstract: Supplemental protein is needed to maintain stocker calf performance during the second half of the summer grazing season. The objective of this experiment was to determine stocker calf performance when annual lespedeza (Var. 'Korean')was used as a source of supplemental protein for stocker stocker calves grazing tall grass native prairie. The experiment was conducted at the USDA-ARS Grazinglands Research Laboratory, El Reno,OK. Si 4-ha paddocks were established in 1999 and grazed once each year during the summer at an average stocking rate of 2.3 steers/ha. Steers were provided by stocker producers in Kansas (1999), Oklahoma (2000) and Texas (2001), were of mixed breed and were representative of stocker calves used in those areas to graze summer pastures. Sixty steers were used in 1999 (BW=244 kg), 48 steers wee used in 2000 (BW=339 kg), and 60 steers in 2001 (BW=334). During the last half of the 85-d grazing season, the steers in two of the paddocks were allowed to graze an adjacent paddock of lespedeza for 24 h twice each week (1999 only) or fed lespedeza hay at 2% of BW twice each week (2000 and 2001). Steers in two paddocks were fed 4 kg/steer of a 20% CP supplement twice each week. Steers in the remaining two paddocks received no supplementation and had an ADG of 0.79 kg during the first half (40 d) of the summer & 0.58 kg during the second half (45 d) of the summer. Providing supplemental protein increased (P=0.05) ADG. Steers fed the 20% CP supplement had an ADG of 0.70 and 0.69 kg during the first and second half of the summer. Steers in the lespedeza groups had ADG of 0.73 & 0.64kg during the first and second half of summer. Annual lespedeza can be limit- grazing or limit-fed as a hay to provide supplimental protein to maintain ADG in stocker claves during the second half of the grazing season.