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- Title
A nutritional supplement for beef cattle grazing endophyteinfected tall fescue. II. Response of individually-pastured cow/calf pairs.
- Authors
Aaron, D. K.; Ely, D. G.; Wyles, J.; Zinner, R. A.; Lunsford, A. K.; Mallory, M. L.
- Abstract
Sixty, 3 to 5 yr-old, Angus x Beefmaster cows and their calves were used in a 3-yr study to assess response to gradient levels (0, 10, 20, and 40 g/cow) of a nutritional supplement produced from brewer's dried yeast (FEB-200™, Alltech, Inc., Nicholasville, KY). The supplement, carried in 0.45 kg ground shelled corn, was provided to cows on a daily basis during the grazing period, which began on May 4 each year. From this date until July 11 (Period 1), cows and calves were managed in eight, endophyte-infected (> 90%) KY 31 tall fescue pastures (two pastures/supplement level, re-randomized each year) stocked with 10 to 16 cow/calf pairs each. On July 11 each year, 20 pre-designated cow/calf pairs were allotted to individual 1.6-ha plots of equivalent pasture (five plots/supplement level, re-randomized each year). Cows continued their respective supplement regimes from this date until calves were weaned on October 24 (Period 2). Cow weight changes in Period 1 were -15 -9, -8, and -1 kg/hd (Linear; P = 0.01) for 0, 10, 20 and 40 g supplement levels. Although corresponding weight changes in Period 2 showed no significant trend, total cow gains from May 4 to October 24 increased linearly (24, 28, 30, and 34 kg/hd; P = .10) as level of supplementation increased. Likewise, cow BCS increased linearly in Period 1 (-0.03, 0.22, 0.30, and 0.58; P = 0.001) and overall (0.68, 0.64, 0.90, and 1.13; P = 0.02). In Period 1, calves gained 57, 58, 56, and 64 kg/hd (Linear; P = 0.10) as supplement level increased. No significant differences were found in Period 2; however, overall calf gains (146, 149, 148, and 158 kg/hd) were linear (P = 0.11). In Period 2, performance of individually-supplemented cow/calf pairs mimicked that of group-supplemented cows and calves remaining in the larger pastures until weaning. These results show that daily supplementation with 40 g/cow of FEB-200™ can increase production of cows and calves grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue.
- Subjects
TALL fescue; BEEF cattle; CALVES; COWS; PASTURES; PRODUCTION increases; LACTATION in cattle
- Publication
Journal of Animal Science, 2006, Vol 84, p396
- ISSN
0021-8812
- Publication type
Article