Abstract
The effects of supple mental corn (4 lb/day), rumen-protected methionine (4.25 grams DL-methionine per day), or a cooked molasses block (1 lb/day) on intake and digestion of prairie hay were measured i n beef steers. Steers that consumed the cooked molasses block ate more forage than control steers, whereas forage intake was decreased by supplemental corn. Total tract organic matter digestion, expressed as a percent of intake, was numerically greatest for steers consuming the cooked molasses block. Digestible organic matter intake, a rough estimate of energy available to the steers, was unaffected by methionine but was increased by supplementation of either corn or the cooked molasses block. Digestible organic matter intake tended to be greater for the block than for corn. Providing protein in a more concentrated form (block) tended to be more beneficial, because the negative effects of starch (corn) on forage intake were avoided.
Highlights
Differences have been noted in the ability of these supplements to increas eavailable energy to cattle.Methionine is thought t obe the first limiting amino acid in micr obial protein
Steers that consumed the cooked molasses block ate more forage than control steers, whereas forage intake was decreased by supplemental corn
Digestible organic matter intake tended to be greater for ht e block than for corn
Summary
Differences have been noted in the ability of these supplements to increas eavailable energy to cattle. Methionine is thought t obe the first limiting amino acid in micr obial protein. Supplying that amino acid to cattle may improve performance with low levels of total supplement. Another aspect of supplementing cattle grazing dormant forages is the time and cost associated with supplementati on. Blocks can be used to s upplement cattle with less time expenditure than hand-feeding supplements. With these points in mind, our objective was to investig ate the effects of supplementation strategy on forage intake and digestion
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
