Feathermeal/bloodmeal liquid suspensions for calves grazing winter wheat pasture

A field study was conducted over 2 years at four different locations in south central Kansas to compare a feathermeal/bloodmeal (ESCAPE) liquid suspension to a molasses-based liquid supplement (ENERGY) and a dry mineral supplement (CONTROL) on the liveweight gain of 768 calves grazing wheat pasture. No significant differences occurred in supplement intake between ESCAPE and ENERGY across years (P=.88). Offering a liquid supplement containing either ES CAPE or ENERGY did not improve (P=.91) growth performance relative to CONTROL calves.

Appreciation is expressed to the following individuals and companies for their assistance 1 with this project: (1) U.S. Poultry and Egg Association for financial support.(2) Bob and Mike Cather, Anthony; John Farney, Kiowa; Rod Lungren, Caldwell; and David Govert and Tom Theis, Kingman, for providing cattle, equipment and assistance.(3) Fort Dodge Animal Health for donation of Synovex-S and Synovex-H implants.(4) Pfizer Animal Health for donation of Bloat-Guard.(5) Sunglo Feeds for liquid supplement mixing and delivery.
South Central Area Extension Office, Hutchinson. 2

Introduction
Wheat pasture plays an important role in beef production systems in Kansas and other southern pla ins states.Despite the fact that it is a source of high quality forage, wheat forage has potential problems.Its crude protein has been calculated to be 58 t o 70% degradable in the rumen.Consequently, only 30 to 42% of the crude protein is undegraded intake protein (UIP).Becaus e of the extensive degradability, supplementa l UIP may be needed to meet the metabolizabl e protein requirements of rapidly growing cattl e.To determine the need for such supplementation , a study was conducted to evaluate the use of a liquid suspension that delivered supplemental UIP.

Experimental Procedures
This field study was conducted with four cooperating producers in south central Kansas, with each stocker operation representing a trial replicate .The study was conducted during the fall/winters of 1990-91 and 1994-95.The second year was delayed because of poor growing conditions fo r wheat pasture.For each year, replicate trials were conducted at three separate producer location s with 81 to 165 head of crossbred stocker calves at each location.The average initial weights were 430 lb for the first year and 450 lb for the second.The grazing period ranged from 78 to 119 days, dependin g upon prevailing environmental conditions.
All stocker calves were assembled 3 to 4 week s prior to trial initiation and were vaccinated against common viral and bacterial diseases, treated for internal and external parasites, and implanted with an estrogenic growth implant at t he onset of the trial.All 768 calves were weighed individually, identified with numbered ear tags and randomly allotted to one of three treatments.We used colorcoded ear tags to ensure that calves remained pastured with their speci f ic treatment group.At the conclusion of the study, calves were gathered and individually weighed.For each year, either heifer or steer calves were used exclusively at each location.
Each trial location was uniform in terms of cereal cultivar, f ertility, topography and cultural managemen t to ensure that any differences detecte d would be due to supplement.Each pasture was c ross-fenced and stocked to ensure that forage availability was similar across treatment .During periods of snow cover or inclemen t weather, equivalent amounts of harveste d forage were provided to all treatments.
The supplements were formulated and delivered to each loc ation by a commercial feed comp any.For the ENERGY and ESCAPE treatments , the supplement was provided freechoice to calves in 1000-lb tubs equipped with groove d lick wheels.Supplement intake was projected to be 1.5 to 2 lb/head/day.At the onset of the trial, the tubs were calibrated so that supplement consumption could be measured .The ingredient composition and actual nutrient analysis of the ESCAPE and ENERGY liquid supplements are shown in Table 1.A typical dry mix containing Bloat Guard (48 grams poloxalene/lb) and accepted mineral levels for wheat pasture was provided free-choice to a l l groups.Controls received the mineral mix alone.
The data were analyzed by analysis of variance with year and supplement type as the sources of variation .Supplement intake and average daily gain were the response criteria.

Results and Discussion
During the 2 years when th i s study was conducted, wheat forage was abundant.No significan t interactions occurred between year and treatment; therefore, only main effects are shown .
Average daily gains across all treatments were 2.48 and 2.58 lb/head/day in year 1 and yea r 2, respectively, suggesting that plane of nutrition provided by the wheat forage was exceptional l y high.Average daily gain and supplemen t intake for each treatment are presented in Table 2.
Calves receiving ENERGY and ESCAPE liquid s u pplements had slightly higher weight gains relative to the CONTRO L treatment, but these differences were not significant (P=.91).Differences in consumptio n rate of the ESCAPE and ENERGY supplements wer e statistically similar as well (P=.88).Previous research evaluating high UIP protein supplementation for growing stocker cattle grazing wheat pasture has yielded variable results.
Assuming that whea t forage protein is 58 to 70% DIP and using the gain performance from our study, the NRC 1996 software determined that metabolizable protein requirements were exceeded by 20% with consumption of wheat forage alone.The availability of high quality, abundan t wheat forage was sufficient over the two years this study to meet metabolizable protein requirements without feeding a liquid supplement containing UIP.