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Ammoniation of Warm-Season Grass Hay for Gestating Beef Cows¹

University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68583-0908

Abstract

Effects of ammoniation of mature warm-season grass hay were measured in feeding trials with 144 gestating beef cows and a digestion trial using 24 lambs. Two winter hay feeding trials were conducted with cows using switchgrass (SG), ammoniated SG (SGNH₃), big bluestem (BB) and ammoniated BB (BBNH₃). Ammoniation did not significantly affect dry matter intake in either trial or average daily gain in trial 1. Average daily gain in trial 2 was higher (P<.01) with BBHN₃ than BB. Ammoniation increased in vitro dry matter disappearance and crude protein of hays in both trials. Mature crossbred wethers were used to compared SG, SGNH₃, BB and BBNH₃ in a digestion trial. Dry matter disappearance (DMD) was higher for SGNH₃ (P<.001) and BBNH₃ (P<.08) than untreated hay. These data show that ammoniation of warm-season grass hay can significantly increase DMD in lambs and tended to improve winter performance of gestating beef cows.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director as paper no. 8107 Journal Ser., Nebraska Agr. Exp. Sta.

² Present address: Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Res. Sta.-USDA, Miles City, MT 59301.

³ Dept. of Anim. Sci.