Additive effects of growth promoting technologies on performance of grazing steers and economics of the wheat pasture enterprise.

This research was designed to evaluate the effect of monensin (Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN) supplementation via mineral or pressed protein block with or without a growth-promoting implant on performance of steers grazing wheat pasture in Arkansas over 2 yr. Preconditioned steers (n = 360, BW = 238 ± 5.1 kg) grazed 15 1.

Effects of energy, mineral supplementation, or both, in combination with monensin on performance of steers grazing winter wheat pasture.

A 2-yr study was conducted during the 2004 to 2005 (YR1) and 2005 to 2006 (YR2) winter wheat grazing seasons to determine the effects of supplementation strategies and delivery methods on supplement intake and growth performance of grazing steers (YR1, n = 253, initial BW 255 +/- 25 kg; YR2, n = 116, initial BW 287 +/- 14 kg). The 5 treatments were as follows: 1) negative control (NC), no supplemental nutrients; 2) free-choice, nonmedicated mineral (MIN); 3) free-choice, medicated mineral with 1,785 mg of monensin/kg of mineral mixture (RMIN); 4) RMIN and soybean hulls (SH-RMIN); and 5) a soybean hull-based energy supplement containing 165 mg of monensin/kg (GRNGOLD). Energy supplements were hand-fed on alternate days (average daily intake = 0.

Interactions between supplement energy source and tall fescue hay maturity on forage utilization by beef steers.

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of tall fescue hay maturity on intake, digestion, and ruminal fermentation responses to different supplemental energy sources fed to beef steers. Twelve ruminally cannulated, crossbred steers (initial BW = 228 +/- 21 kg) were used in a split-plot experiment with a 3 x 4 factorial treatment arrangement. Steers were assigned randomly to three supplement treatments: 1) no supplement, 2) pelleted soybean hulls, or 3) coarse cracked corn.

Effect of supplemental nutrient source on heifer growth and reproductive performance, and on utilization of corn silage-based diets by beef steers.

Two experiments were conducted to determine effects of oilseeds or soybean hulls on growth and reproductive performance of heifers and utilization of corn silage diets by growing beef cattle. In Exp. 1, 96 beef heifers (249 kg of BW) were used in a randomized complete block design.

Characterization of season and sampling method effects on measurement of forage quality in fescue-based pastures.

Information on seasonal changes and effects of sampling methods on the measurement of forage quality is limited for fescue-based pastures. Eight continuously grazed, 0.76-ha, fescue-based pastures were used to compare forage type, method of collection, and seasonal effects on forage quality in a repeated-measures, split-plot design.