Heifers grazing winter range require supplemental nutrients to complement dormant forage to achieve optimal growth and performance. A study was conducted to evaluate nutritional environment and effect of different sup...Heifers grazing winter range require supplemental nutrients to complement dormant forage to achieve optimal growth and performance. A study was conducted to evaluate nutritional environment and effect of different supplementation strategies for developing heifers grazing dormant winter range. Eighty-four Angus crossbred heifers were stratified by body weight at weaning, allocated to one of six replicated pastures, and randomly assigned one of three supplemental treatments: 1) 908 g/d of a control supplement providing 340 g·hd-1·d-1 of CP with 130 g of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) and 614 MJ of ME (LRUP);2) 908 g/d of a RUP supplement providing 340 g·hd-1·d-1 of CP with 170 g of RUP and 567 MJ of ME (HRUP);or 3) 1814 g/d of a protein and energy supplement providing 340 g·hd-1·d-1 of CP with 120 g of RUP + 100 g of propionate salt (NutroCalTM, Kemin Industries, Inc.) and 1222 MJ of ME (LRUP + E). Body weights were taken in November, with monthly 12 h shrunk BW from January thru April, and again in September (at time of pregnancy diagnosis). Heifer average daily gain was similar throughout the developmental period except from d125 to d159 where LRUP + E supplemented heifers had greater gains展开更多
文摘Heifers grazing winter range require supplemental nutrients to complement dormant forage to achieve optimal growth and performance. A study was conducted to evaluate nutritional environment and effect of different supplementation strategies for developing heifers grazing dormant winter range. Eighty-four Angus crossbred heifers were stratified by body weight at weaning, allocated to one of six replicated pastures, and randomly assigned one of three supplemental treatments: 1) 908 g/d of a control supplement providing 340 g·hd-1·d-1 of CP with 130 g of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) and 614 MJ of ME (LRUP);2) 908 g/d of a RUP supplement providing 340 g·hd-1·d-1 of CP with 170 g of RUP and 567 MJ of ME (HRUP);or 3) 1814 g/d of a protein and energy supplement providing 340 g·hd-1·d-1 of CP with 120 g of RUP + 100 g of propionate salt (NutroCalTM, Kemin Industries, Inc.) and 1222 MJ of ME (LRUP + E). Body weights were taken in November, with monthly 12 h shrunk BW from January thru April, and again in September (at time of pregnancy diagnosis). Heifer average daily gain was similar throughout the developmental period except from d125 to d159 where LRUP + E supplemented heifers had greater gains