Journal of Animal Science, Vol 72, Issue 4 1059-1067, Copyright © 1994 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Performance and forage utilization by beef cattle receiving increasing amounts of alfalfa hay as a supplement to low-quality, tallgrass-prairie forage

E. S. Vanzant and R. C. Cochran
Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506.

Two experiments evaluated effects of amount of supplemental alfalfa hay on intake and utilization of dormant, tallgrass-prairie forage by beef steers and on performance of cows grazing tallgrass prairie during winter. In Exp. 1, four supplemental alfalfa levels (.23, .47, .70, and .94% BW.steer-1.d-1) were evaluated in a 34-d, randomized complete block design experiment using 16 steers (291 kg). Voluntary tallgrass-prairie hay intake decreased linearly (P = .02), whereas total DMI increased linearly (P < .01) with increased alfalfa. Dry matter digestibility was unaffected (P > .10) by treatment, although NDF digestibility decreased (linear, P = .03) and passage rates of indigestible ADF and Cr EDTA increased (linear, P = .02) with increased alfalfa. In Exp. 2, supplemental alfalfa (.48, .72, or .96% BW.cow-1.d-1) was fed to 113 pregnant Hereford x Angus cows (502 kg) from November 27 until calving (average calving date = March 7). Cumulative weight loss from the beginning of the experiment until just after calving was lowest with .96% BW alfalfa (quadratic, P = .09), and cumulative condition loss was decreased linearly (P = .02) with increased alfalfa. Although treatment did not alter (P > .10) pregnancy rates, increasing the amount of alfalfa supported shorter intervals to conception (P = .03). Cows fed .96% BW alfalfa weaned heavier calves (quadratic, P = .04) than other groups. Results indicate that improvements in performance of beef cows in moderate body condition were greater when the amount of supplemental alfalfa was increased from .48 to .72% BW than when it was increased from .72 to .96% BW.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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