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ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #88747
Title: EFFECTS OF GROWTH POTENTIAL AND PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON STEERS GRAZING FALL PASTURE

Author
item Grings, Elaine
item Short, Robert
item ADAMS, DON - UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA

Submitted to: Research Update for Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A 3-yr study (1990 to 1992) was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplemental protein on steers (average weight 471 lbs) of high (Charolais-sired) or moderate (Hereford-sired) genetic potential for growth. Each year 22 or 23 steers grazed pastures of a russian wildrye-wheatgrass complex. One-half of the steers were individually fed soybean meal (1 lb/d) 5 d/wk in 1990 and 7 d/wk in 1991 & 1992. Dietary CP averaged 15.1, 14.8, and 12.6 in mid-October and 10.5, 14.5, and 7.0% of OM in mid-December of 1990, 1991, and 1992, respectively.Steers of high genetic potential for growth gained 1.4 lb/d compared to 1.2 lb/d for steers of moderate potential for growth (P < 0.05) and protein supplemented steers gained 1.5 compared to 1.1 lb/d for non-supplemented steers (P < 0.01). There were also differences in rate of gain among years. Steers gained only 1.1 lb/d in 1990 compared to 1.5 and 1.4 lb/d in 1991 and 1992. Forage intake was affected by year (P < 0.01) and genetic potential for growth (P < 0.05) and averaged 8.8, 9.5, and 7.5 lb/d for 1990, 1991, and 1992, respectively and 9.0 and 8.1 lb/d for steers having high and moderate genetic potential for growth. Protein supplementation was cost effective for steers grazing irrigated pasture in the fall.