Case Study: Influence of Fall Liquid Protien Supplementation on Performance of Beef Cows Grazing Native Range
ISSN 2158-9429
Volume 9, Issue 1 - June 2016
Editor: Linda Chalker-Scott
Abstract
Improved cowherd performance has been reported form supplementing low-quality forage diets with ruminal degradable protein. Liquid protein supplements are an option of beef producers, however, the proper timing and length of the supplementation periods with liquid protein supplements is not well established. Therefore, a case study was designed to investigate liquid protein supplementation programs during late gestation. Treatments were: liquid supplementation started 60 days before weaning, liquid supplement started at weaning, and a control consisting of a hand-fed dry protein supplement started 60 days after weaning. All treatments ended with spring calving. Cows receiving liquid supplement after weaning tended (P=0.08) to gain body weight (BW) more rapidly and had greater (P=0.03) body condition score (BCS) gains than the controls. Control cows gained more BW and BCS (P<0.01) during the last 60 days of pregnancy. Calves from control cows gained more BW (P<0.01) from birth until the start of the summer grazing season and were heavier (P<0.01) after summer grazing. Providing a self-fed liquid supplement is a viable supplementation program in the fall to increase cow BW and BCS gains from weaning until the start of winter grazing period and it also affected subsequent calf performance.
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