Value of feather meal in a molasses-based liquid supplement fed to yearling cattle consuming a forage diet.
Hydrolyzed feather meal (FM) was compared to other sources of CP to determine its value as a protein source in a molasses-based liquid supplement. Ruminal N escape values (measured in situ) for FM, ring-dried blood meal, cottonseed meal, and soybean meal approximated reported values. Ruminal N escape value for catfish meal was lower than values reported for other fish meals. In two trials (194 d), 84 yearling heifers were allotted to 12 pastures (3 pastures/treatment) and fed one of four supplements (1.7 kg of DM.heifer-1.d-1) containing either molasses and urea; molasses, urea,and FM; molasses, urea, FM, and catfish meal; or molasses, urea, FM, and catfish oil. Heifers were exposed to bulls for 60 d. In two trials, 112 steers were allotted to 16 pastures (4 Pastures/treatment) and fed one of four supplements (1.7 kg of DM.steer-1.d-1) containing molasses and urea; molasses, urea and FM; molasses, urea, FM and ring-dried poultry blood meal; or molasses, urea, and poultry feathers and blood hydrolyzed together. In all trials, cattle fed molasses containing FM had faster gains (P < .05) and heifers had heavier live weights at breeding (P < .05) and higher pregnancy rates (P < .05) than cattle fed molasses and urea. Combining poultry blood with molasses, urea, and FM improved (P < .05) steer gains in one of two trials. Combining catfish meal with molasses, urea, and FM did not improve (P > .05) ADG of pregnancy rate of heifers. Combining catfish oil with molasses, urea, and FM increased (P < .05) ADG in one trial and blood cholesterol and live weight of heifers at breeding in both trials. It is concluded that protein feeds, such as FM, that contain a large portion of ruminally undegradable protein may provide much of the CP in liquid supplements fed to growing cattle consuming moderate-quality forage. Adding catfish oil to a liquid supplement may improve ADG and live weight of yearling heifers at breeding.
Pate
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FM
Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ona 33865, USA.
Brown
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WF
Hammond
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AC
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000592:standards*; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005241:Feathers; D005260:Female; D005396:Fish Products / Q000592:standards; D005527:Food, Fortified; D008297:Male; D008965:Molasses / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011897:Random Allocation; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology
D001798:Blood Proteins; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol