Effect of supplementation with urea, blood meal, and rumen-protected methionine on growth performance of Holstein heifers grazing kikuyu pasture

Author： Gomez Armando

Publisher： Springer Publishing Company

ISSN： 0049-4747

Source： Tropical Animal Health and Production, Vol.43, Iss.3, 2011-03, pp. : 721-724

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Abstract

Supplements with corn grain, molasses cane, and different nitrogen sources were evaluated in 16 growing Hosltein heifers [227 ± 33 kg body weight (BW)] grazing kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) pasture in a 10-ha sward (rotational grazing with electric fences) during 90 days in the summer season. The nitrogen sources were urea (U); urea and blood meal (U + BM); and urea, blood meal, and rumen-protected methionine (U + BM + RPM). Heifers were randomly assigned to four experimental supplements defined as follows: control (no supplementation), U, U + BM, and U + BM + RPM. Two kilograms (as fed) of supplement was offered daily. The final BW of heifers fed U + BM + RPM was higher (P < 0.05) than="" heifers="" not="" supplemented.="" the="" total="" and="" average="" daily="" weight="" gain="" of="" heifers="" supplemented="" with="" u + bm + rpm="" were="" higher="" than="" heifers="" not="" supplemented="" or="" supplemented="" with="" u="" and="" u + bm="">P < 0.05). the="" average="" daily="" gain="" of="" heifers="" supplemented="" with="" u="" and="" u + bm="" were="" higher="" than="" heifers="" not="" supplemented="">P < 0.05). grass="" intake="" was="" not="" affected="" by="" supplementation,="" but="" total="" dry="" matter="" intake="" was="" increased="" by="" supplements="" with="" u,="" u + bm,="" and="" u + bm + rpm="">P < 0.05). feed="" conversion="" was="" improved="" by="" u + bm + rpm="">P < 0.05). total="" tract="" digestion="" was="" not="" affected="" by="" supplements.="" blood="" urea="" nitrogen="" concentrations="" of="" heifers="" supplemented="" with="" u,="" u + bm,="" and="" u + bm + rpm="" were="" higher="" than="" heifers="" not="" supplemented="">P < 0.05). it="" is="" concluded="" that="" supplements="" with="" u + bm + rpm="" improved="" growth="" performance="" and="" feed="" conversion="" in="" heifers="" grazing="" kikuyu="" pasture.="">