Abstract

Thirteen, ruminally fistulated, Angus x Hereford, yearling steers were used to evaluate the effect of feeding different types and amounts of supplements on t h e likelihood of observing a substitution of supplement for range forage. Steers had ad libitum access to low-quality range forage and were fed a supplement comprised of sorghum grain (SG) and soybean meal (SBM ) that contained 18% CP (SG/SBM 18%), a SG/SBM supplement that contained 36% CP (SG/SBM 36%), long-stem alfalfa hay (18% CP), or alfalfa-pellets (18% CP) in amounts that provided .05, .10, and .15 % BW o f CP/day. In general, supplementation increase d the intake and digestibility of low-quality range forage. No substitution effect was observed for the SG/SBM 36% supplement or the alfalfa pellets. However, the SG/SBM 18% supplement did substitute for forage at the high level of supplementation. A similar trend appeared to exist for the long-stem alfalfa hay.

Keywords: Cattlemen's Day, 1994, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution, no. 94-373-S, Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service), 704, Beef, Supplementation, Alfalfa, Range forage, Pellets

How to Cite:

Stafford, S., Cochran, R., Vanzant, E. & Fritz, J., (1994) “Evaluation of the potential of supplements to substitute for range forage”, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 1(1), 92-94. doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.2070