Abstract
AbstractIn Gansu Province, a key beef cattle production area in China, feeding systems are changing from grazing to stall‐feeding. To reduce production costs, alternative feeding regimens with domestic forages, such as alfalfa hay (AH), are needed. We evaluated the effects of the AH feeding level on nitrogen balance and daily gain (DG) of Simmental calves by two feeding trials. In trial 1, when AH was consumed at 0%–19% of total dry matter intake, no clear effect of AH intake on metabolizable‐protein supply and DG was observed. In trial 2, when more concentrate feed was fed than in trial 1, metabolizable‐protein supply and nitrogen retention increased as the AH consumption rate increased (0%–38% of total intake); these effects appeared to be related to the DG increase. Our results suggest that AH inclusion in concentrate‐based diets increases the metabolizable‐protein supply for the optimal DG of growing beef calves.
Published Version
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