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Effect of Energy Supplementation of Stocker Cattle Grazing Smooth Bromegrass Pastures on Grazing and Subsequent Finishing Performance and Carcass Traits1

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ABSTRACT

Grazing and subsequent finishing performance of 117 Angus stocker calves (Bos taurus; BW = 235.5 ± 1.22 kg) supplemented with 0, 0.82, or 1.64 kg/d of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) on a DM basis while grazing smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis) pastures in 2002, 2003, and 2004 were evaluated. Cattle continuously grazed pastures at a stocking rate of 2 steers/ha from mid-April to early November of each year and were then finished for slaughter and collection of carcass data. Supplementation with 0.82 or 1.64 kg/d of grain sorghum resulted in 11.2% greater (P < 0.05) or 20.4% greater (P < 0.05) grazing ADG, respectively, than feeding no supplement. Energy supplementation during the grazing phase had no effect (P > 0.05) on forage mass, finishing ADG, or DMI during the finishing phase. Cattle supplemented during the grazing phase maintained their weight advantage through the finishing phase, were heavier (P < 0.05) at slaughter, yielded heavier (P < 0.05) carcasses, and had greater (P < 0.05) overall ADG than those that received no supplement. Cattle supplemented with 0.82 kg/d of grain sorghum required less (P < 0.05) feed per unit of gain during the finishing phase than those that were previously supplemented with 1.64 kg/d. Supplementation with 1.64 kg/d of grain sorghum during the grazing phase resulted in a greater (P < 0.05) marbling score than feeding no grazing supplement. Overall ADG from the beginning of the grazing phase through the end of the finishing phase was greater (P < 0.05) for cattle that were supplemented with grain sorghum while grazing.

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    Contribution No. 09-084-J from the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

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