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Title: Effects of bale feeder type and supplementation of monensin on hay waste, intake, and performance of beef cattle

Author
item BROWN, MIKE - Retired ARS Employee
item SPARKS, JOHN - Oklahoma State University
item SEXTON, AUSTIN - Oklahoma State University
item MCMURPHY, CASEY - Oklahoma State University
item MOURER, GRANT - Oklahoma State University
item RICHARDS, CHRIS - Oklahoma State University
item LALMAN, DAVID - Oklahoma State University

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2012
Publication Date: 2/5/2013
Citation: Brown, M.A., Sparks, J.D., Sexton, A.J., Mcmurphy, C.P., Mourer, G.L., Richards, C.J., Lalman, D.L. 2013. Effects of bale feeder type and supplementation of monensin on hay waste, intake, and performance of beef cattle. American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting. https://asas.org/docs/southern-section/2013southern_abstracts_web.pdf

Interpretive Summary: Abstract only

Technical Abstract: The effects of feeder type and supplemental monensin on hay utilization in beef cows was investigated using 56 crossbred beef cows (BW= 494 ± 50 kg; BCS= 5.2 ± 0.5) in a split-plot treatment arrangement with a completely randomized design. Supplement treatment served as the main plot and feeder design was the subplot. Supplement treatments included a 36% CP cottonseed meal based pellet with 0 (CONT; control) or 200 mg/head of monensin (MON), fed at a rate of 1.36 kg/ head daily. Feeder design treatments included a conventional open bottomed steel ring (OBSR),a sheeted bottomed steel ring (RING), a polyethylene pipe ring (POLY), and a modified cone feeder (MODC). Cows were weighed and allotted based on BW to one of four previously grazed 2.0 ha paddocks equipped with a 12.2 x 7.6 m concrete feeding pad. Hay waste was measured daily and orts were measured when approximately 100 kg of hay remained in the feeder. Hay waste was significantly affected by hay feeder design with 5.6, 20.6, 21.5, and 12.7% waste for MODC, OBSR, POLY, and RING respectively (P<0.01). There was a trend for DMI to differ among feeder types (P=0.12), but not for supplement treatments (P=0.45). Supplementing with MON resulted in improved cow performance with regard to final BCS, weight gain, BCS gain, and ADG (P<0.05). Apparent OM, NDF, and ADF digestibility was increased (P<0.05) with MON supplementation. The results of this study indicate that feeder design can greatly impact the amountof hay required to maintain beef cows.Furthermore, supplemental MON in this study positively altered apparent digestibility. The combination of using a hay conserving feeder design and supplemental monensin has the potential to dramatically reduce the amount of hay required in wintering systems for beef cows.