UREA, PHOSPHORUS AND MOLASSES SUPPLEMENTS FOR GRAZING BEEF WEANERS

Abstract

Summary An experiment with grazing weaner cattle was conducted in which supplements of molasses, phosphoric acid and urea were compared with no supplement during wet and dry seasons. No responses to urea supplementation occurred until faecal protein levels fell below 8.0 per cent, when liveweight responses to a molasses-urea supplement occurred, initially with increased rate of gain then reduced ‘rate of loss. A molasses supplement increased wet season gains, and a phosphoric acid supplement fed with either molasses or molasses-urea significantly increased dry season weight loss. No significant differences in post-suppleme ntation growth rate were observed between treatment groups, and, at the final weighing, urea-supplemented groups were significantly heavier than those which received no urea. Final carcase weight and dressing percentage were significantly higher following urea supplementation. Measurements of faecal output indicated that urea groups consumed more dry matter than non-urea groups, from late autumn onwards.