Effects of spring pasture burning, pasture deworming, and grain supplementation on performance of stocker steers grazing native Flinthills pasture

A grazing study was conducted using 445 crossbred beef steers (496 lb) to determine the benefits of feeding a grain-based supplementon burned and unburned native pasture, with and without a Safe-Guard (fenbendazole) treatment while on pasture. Treatments consisted of mineral only, mineral with Safe-Guard treatment at day 29, and a supplement based on dry-rolled corn with a Safe-Guard treatment on day 29. All three treatments provided GainPro to the steers. Twelve pastures were used, six that were burned and six that were not burned during the month before the start of the trial. The control pastures were stocked at 272 lb per acre; the pastures with cattle receiving supplements were stocked at 312 lb per acre, 15% more than controls. Cattle grazing burned pastures had greater daily gains (1.81 vs. 1.65 lb/day; P=0.05) and gained 9 lb more per acre (85 vs. 76 lb/acre; P=0.03) than those grazing unburned pastures. Supplementation with grain mix improved the pounds of gain per acre, compared with cattle not receiving supplement (95 vs. 76 lb/acre; P<0.01). Steers treated with Safe-Guard while on pasture tended to have greater daily gains (1.73 vs. 1.61; P=0.17) and gained slightly more weight per acre, but this increase was not significant (P=0.24). Analysis of fecal samples indicated that deworming while on pasture did not reduce the average number of eggs shed per animal, but did increase the percentage of steers shedding no eggs

Energy supplementation of steers grazing early-season, native range: effects on grazing and subsequent finishing performance and carcass merit

Crossbred beef steers (n = 328, initially 495 lb) were used to determine the effects of energy supplementation on grazing and subsequent finishing performance of steers grazing early-season, native range. Treatments consisted of either no supplemental energy or access to feeders containing a free choice, grain-based energy supplement. On the first day of the grazing period, steers were weighed and randomly allotted among eight pastures, providing four replications per treatment. Stocking density was 34% higher for supplemented than for unsupplemented pastures. At the end of the grazing period, steers were transported to a commercial feedlot and allowed ad libitum access to a common finishing diet for an average of 171 days. Supplement intake averaged 5.4 ± 1.1 lb/day (dry matter basis) or approximately 0.90% of body weight during the grazing period. Supplementation increased (P<0.01) grazing period gains from 1.47 to 2.20 lb/day. Supplementation also increased (P<0.01) ribeye area, back fat, and rump fat at the end of the grazing period. Supplementation did not affect subsequent finishing performance or carcass merit, but it reduced (P<0.01) time required for finishing by 18 days. Energy supplementation of steers grazing early-season, native range resulted in more pounds of gain per acre due to improved grazing performance as well as a 34% increase in stocking density