Feather Meal as a Source of Sulfur Amino Acids for Growing Steers

Authors

Mark Klemesrud, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

January 1998

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.

Abstract

One-hundred twenty individually fed steer calves were used to evaluate feather meal as a source of sulfur amino acids. Treatment proteins included a urea control and meat and bone meal (6.4% of dietary DM) plus 0, 1, or 2% feather meal with incremental levels of rumen protected methionine. Adding feather meal to meat and bone meal resulted in a linear increase in gain. Likewise, rumen-protected methionine also improved gain. These results indicate feather meal can provide a portion of the sulfur amino acids lacking in meat and bone meal. However, additional methionine may further improve performance.