Animal Science, Department of
Date of this Version
1-1-1998
Abstract
Ninety-six crossbred yearling steers (656 lb) were assigned to either control (CON) or balanced (BAL) treatments. Steers were fed for 135 days in 12 waste-management pens with runoff collection basins. Control diet consisted of a DRC, 7.5 % roughage finisher formulated for 13.5 % protein and 0.35 % phosphorus. Balanced diet was formulated using the 1996 NRC model to meet the animal’s protein (11.5%) and phosphorus (0.22%) requirements. Gains were unaffected and feed efficiency tended to improve by feeding the BAL diet. Nitrogen and P excretion were lower with BAL steers compared with CON steers. Consequently, the manure’s N:P ratio was improved relative to crop needs from 1.9:1 to 3:1 for CON and BAL treatments respectively. Feeding at the animal’s requirement for protein and P decreases N and P excretion and improves waste characteristics without compromising animal performance.
Comments
Published in Nebraska Beef Cattle Report 1998, published by Agricultural Research Division, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, and Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln.