Supplement Intake and Performance of Steers Fed Compressed Block or Liquid Protein Supplements on Bermudagrass Pastures

The objective of this experiment was to determine whether molasses-based supplements containing nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) fed daily could increase the performance of summer stocker cattle grazing ‘Midland' bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.) pastures as efficiently as an all plant protein supplement fed three times weekly. Over three summer grazing seasons (1989 through 1991) crossbred steers (n = 420, mean BW=255 kg) were randomly assigned to either an unsupplemented group (all 3 yr) or to the following supplemented treatment groups: 1) 3.2kg of 38% CP plant protein supplement fed in three equal portions per week during the last half of the grazing season (all 3 yr), 2) ad libitum access throughout the grazing season to compressed molasses block containing 37% CP with 16% CP equivalents from NPN (yr 1), or limited access to a cane molasses/NPN based liquid CP supplement provided in a lick tank. The liquid supplement used in yr 2 contained 16% CP with 10% CP equivalents from NPN, whereas in yr 3 the liquid supplement contained 24% CP with 18.5% CP equivalents from NPN. All supplements contained lasalocid. Data were analyzed within year as a completely randomized design using pasture as the experimental unit. Providing supplemental protein significantly increased ADG (0.51 vs 0.69 kg). Molasses-based supplements fed either as compressed blocks or a liquid supplement were as effective as a dry all plant protein supplement for increasing ADG of steers grazing bermudagrass during the summer.