Influence of low-level fall supplementation with a self-fed, high-protein supplement and level of winter supplementation on performance of beef cows grazing tallgrass-prairie range

摘要

An experiment was conducted to determinethe effect of providing a small amountof a high-protein supplement during the falland effects of increasing subsequent level ofwinter supplementation on cow-calf performance.One hundred-sixty spring-calvingHereford × Angus cows grazing tallgrassprairierange were used. During the fall,cows either had access to a self-fed, highproteinsupplement (30% CP) or were notsupplemented. During the winter, rangecubes (20% CP) were fed at a daily equivalentof 1, 2, 3, or 4 lb/head and all cows hadaccess to the same self-fed supplement usedduring the fall period. Cumulative performance(as measured by changes in bodycondition score and body weight) tended toshow limited response to low-level fallsupplementation, but was significantly improvedas level of winter supplementationincreased.