Performance of growing heifers fed prairie hay and supplemented with alfalfa and(or) cooked molasses blocks of different protein concentrations (1999)

Authors

D.J. Bindel
R.D. Hunter
T. Nutsch
Evan C. Titgemeyer
James S. Drouillard

Keywords

Cattlemen's Day, 1999; Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution; no. 99-339-S; Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service); 831; Beef; Heifers; Forage; Supplementation

Abstract

Crossbred heifers (683 lb; n = 175; 30 pens) were used to evaluate alfalfa and cooked molasses block supplementation to prairie hay. Treatments were arranged in a 2x3 factorial with the factors being 0 or 5 lbs of alfalfa supplementation, and supplementation with no block or with low or high protein blocks (analyzed to contain 14.4 and 27.5% crude protein, respectively). Heifers had ad libitum access to prairie hay and salt. The experiment was 89 days, with heifers fed blocks for 84 days. During days 5 to 19, heifers had ad libitum access to blocks. Thereafter, access was restricted to 4 hours daily. No significant interactions occurred between alfalfa and blocks for intake or gain. Supplementation with alfalfa increased total forage intake by 49% (18.4 vs. 12.3 lb/day), and gains from -.39 lb/day to +.95 lb/day. Intake of the blocks was lower when alfalfa was supplemented (.76 vs. .98 lb/day). Heifers fed the high-protein block gained more weight (.46 lb/day) than those fed the lowprotein block (.25 lb/day) or no block (.12 lb/day). Heifers fed the high-protein block ate more forage (16.1 lb/day) than those fed the low-protein block (14.8 lb/day), with heifers fed no block (15.3 lb/day) being intermediate. Intake of block was greater for the high-protein (.93 lb/day) than for the low-protein block (.81 lb/day). Differences in forage intake accounted for much of the differences in performance among treatments.

Recommended Citation

Bindel, D.J.; Hunter, R.D.; Nutsch, T.; Titgemeyer, Evan C.; and Drouillard, James S. (1999) "Performance of growing heifers fed prairie hay and supplemented with alfalfa and(or) cooked molasses blocks of different protein concentrations (1999)," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 0: Iss. 1. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1865