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Management of stockpiled forages and optimal use of supplements by beef cattle while consuming low-quality forages

Three studies were conducted to evaluate: 1) rotationally grazed forage for late-summer stockpiling; 2) effects of lactation on self-fed supplement intake; and 3) influence of cow age on hand-fed supplement intake. For the first study, treatments consisted of non grazed, 2X and 3X grazed. Crude protein of forage grazed 3X was greater (P<.10) than non-grazed. Yield of non-grazed forage was greater (P<.10) than forage grazed 2X and 3X. Non-grazed forage displayed the greatest stockpiled yield and grazing influenced quality of stockpiled forage to a small magnitude. Treatments for the second study consisted of non, mid, and late-lactation on two experimental diets. Late-lactation cow BW change was less (P<.10) than non-lactating in both experiments and less (P<.10) than mid-lactating cows in Exp. 1 only. Forage intake for late-lactating cows was less (P<.10) than mid-lactating cows in Exp. 1 and tended to be greater (P=.13) than non-lactating cows in Exp. 2. Self-fed supplement intake was highly variable but not influenced by lactation. Treatments for the third study consisted of five age groups. In yr 1, weight change at d 57 for 11-yr cows was greater (P<.10) than 5-yr cows. In yr 2, weight change at d 28 for 8-yr cows was less (P<.10) than 4, 6, and 10-yr cows and 4-yr cows was greater (P<.10) than 6, 10, and 12-yr cows. At d 56, weight change for 4-yr cows was greater (P<.10) than 6, 8, 10 and 12-yr cows and 12-yr cows was less (P<.10) than 6 and 10-yr cows. Weight change at calving for 4-yr cows was greater (P<.10) than 6, 8, and 12-yr cows. Forage intake of 10-yr cows was greater (P<.10) than 8 and 4-yr cows. Supplement intake of 4-yr cows was greater (P>.10) than 8, 10, and 12-yr cows. Six-yr cows had greater (P<.10) supplement intakes than 12 and 8-yr cows. Three and 4-yr cows displayed the best performance and 4-yr cows consumed the greatest amount of supplement. / Graduation date: 2000

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/33276
Date14 December 1999
CreatorsSuverly, Norman A.
ContributorsDelCurto, Timothy
Source SetsOregon State University
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis/Dissertation

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