Dry season protein and energy supplements for beef cattle on native pastures at Katherine, N.T

Abstract

Three experiments planned to gain information on the gross nutritive deficiencies of native pasture as a feed for beef cattle during the dry season were carried out at Katherine, N.T., between 1960 and 1962. Groups of local Shorthorn steers were grazed on native pasture from July to November and fed supplements of crushed sorghum grain and peanut meal at different levels of total digestible nutrients and digestible crude protein. The results suggest that up to the time of early storm rains, prior to the wet season proper, the dry standing native pasture is an adequate source of energy, which can be effectively utilized if cattle are given a small quantity of high-protein supplement. During the period of early rains, the pasture is not an adequate source of energy, and high-protein supplements do not prevent liveweight loss. High spring temperatures before the early rains did not appear to affect adversely the performance of supplemented cattle.