Forage Quality and Animal Performance of Steers Grazing Smooth Bromegrass/Legume Pastures

Authors

• Mark Ullerich, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Michael Trammell, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Date of this Version

January 2002

Comments

Published in 2002 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. Copyright © 2001 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

A trial was conducted to evaluate effects of interseeding legumes into smooth bromegrass pastures on animal performance and forage quality. Animal gains on legume/bromegrass treatments were higher than bromegrass alone. Laboratory analysis of diet samples collected from ruminally fistulated steers indicated no difference in the undegradable intake protein content of pastures. Legume/bromegrass treatments had higher IVDMD than the control. Therefore, the increases in gain are attributed to increased energy of legume/bromegrass diets and not undegradable protein content.