Abstract

Sixteen ruminally fistulated steers (avg wt. = 998 lb) were used in a 30-day conventional digestion trial to examine the effects of protein supplementation on intake and digestion of ammoniated wheat straw. Steers were assigned to one of four protein supplementation programs: 1) Control (C) - no supplement, 2) Low Protein (LP) - 4.5 lb of a 10% crude protein (CP) supplement, 3) Medium Protein (MP) - 4.5 lb of a 20% CP supplement, or 4) High Protein (HP) - 4.5 of a lb 30% CP supplement. Supplements were mixtures of milo and soybean meal. Supplementation increased (P<.05) dry matter intake, tended (P=.09) to increase intake of digestible neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and increased (P<.05) intake of forage dry matter. Dry matter digestibility was higher (P<.05) for HP steers than C and LP steers, but no difference was detected between MP, and HP steers. Steers on HP, MP, and C treatments exhibited higher NDF digestibility than LP steers. Rumen pH, total volatile fatty acid concentration, and acetate to propionate ratio were unaffected by supplementation.

Keywords: Cattlemen's Day, 1993, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution, no. 93-318-S, Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service), 678, Beef, Ammoniation, Intake, Digestibility, Supplementation, , Wheat straw

How to Cite:

Fike, G., Simms, D., Cochran, R., Brandt, R. T., Jr., Vanzant, E. & Kuhl, G. L., (1993) “Protein supplementation of ammoniated wheat straw: effect on intake and digestion in beef steers”, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 1(1), 112-113. doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.2135