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Strategic supplementation to improve beef cattle performance in grazing systems

 

Project Details

  • Project Lead:  Kim Ominski (University of Manitoba)

  • Collaborators: Karin Wittenberg (University of Manitoba), Emma McGeough (University of Manitoba), Doug Cattani (University of Manitoba) Argenis Rodas Gonzalez (University of Manitoba)

  • Years: 2019-2021

  • Project Status: Final stages of completion

  • Funding & In-Kind Support: Canadian Agricultural Partnership, NSERC

  • Location: Johnson Farm

  • Scope: Research

  • Keywords: Livestock Performance, Livestock Nutrition, Smart Ag, Extended Grazing

Approach

This project was conducted to examine the effects of supplementation on animal performance when grazing stockpiled perennial forages in early spring and late fall/early winter in Manitoba.

Cattle: Thirty-two Angus-Shorthorn cross steers were assigned to one of four treatments:

  1. Killarney orchardgrass/Algonquin alfalfa with supplementation (OA-S)

  2. Killarney orchardgrass/Algonquin alfalfa without supplementation (OA-NS)

  3. Courtney tall fescue/Algonquin alfalfa/Oxley II cicer milkvetch with supplementation (TAC-S)

  4. Courtney tall fescue/Algonquin alfalfa/Oxley II cicer milkvetch without supplementation (TAC-NS)

Supplement: Grain screening pellets delivered by SmartFeed Pro systems for accurate and real-time monitoring of consumption on pasture.

Measurements:

  • Forage dry matter intake

  • Forage utilization

  • Average daily gain

  • Serum urea nitrogen concentration

  • Enteric methane emissions

  • Grazing behaviour

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