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Forage Composition and Utilization of Grain Sorghum Residue by Beef Cows^1,2,

University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68583

Abstract

Performance of gestating beef cows, organic matter (OM) yields, and forage quality were determined on grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] residue during two winter grazing trials. The OM yield was significantly higher in 1975 to 1976 (trial II) than 1974 to 1975 (trial I) due to more favorable growing conditions. During both trials cows showed a grazing preference for leaves over stalks and in trial II a preference for stalks over bunched combine tailings. In both trials in vitro OM disappearance declined and cell wall constituents, acid detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin increased during the grazing season with crude protein (CP) declining only in trial I. The change in forage quality in ungrazed plots between fall and winter was apparently due to weathering and general plant deterioration with CP declining less than cell solubles. Levels of CP remained above minimum gestating cow requirements throughout each trial.

Cows supplemented with .23 kg of CP daily gained significantly more weight during trial I than cows receiving no supplement. During trial II cows had similar weight gains when fed either .23 kg of supplemental CP daily from soybean meal (SBM) or a corn cube supplying .06 kg CP and energy equivalent to the SBM cube. Favorable weather, higher quality and greater forage availability combined to support greater beef cow gains in trial II than trial I. There were no significant differences in calf weaning weights or cow reproductive efficiency due to winter performance in either trial.

¹ Published with approval of the Director as Paper No. 5482 Journal Series, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station.

² This research is the result of a cooperative effort under the regional project NC-114.

³ Professor of Ruminant Nutrition.

⁴ Former Associate Professor of Agronomy now deceased.

⁵ Present address: Department of Agronomy, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins 80521

⁶ Present address: Gothenburg, NE 69138.