Liveweight responses by early weaned steers grazed on hay aftermath to supplements of oats, linseed meal and hay

Abstract

Weaned Friesian steers of 130 kg liveweight were offered a range of supplements from January until May while grazing hay aftermath at 5 steers ha-1. Some of the feeds were also given to similar steers in feedlots. The supplements comprised all combinations of oaten grain, linseed meal and pasture hay. Oats and hay were fed separately and ad libitum and the linseed meal was provided as a daily ration alone or mixed with oats. Above average rains fell in December and January but February and March were dry. The pasture supported an average daily gain of 0.55 kg day-1 during the first five weeks when still green but gains declined and responses to the supplements increased after the pastures dried off and especially after the first autumn rains. For steers grazed on pasture, average daily gains (kg day-1) during the 16 weeks of the experiment were: unsupplemented 0.24, supplemented with linseed meal 0.31, hay 0.43, linseed meal and hay 0.63, oats 0.60, oats and hay 0.73, oats and linseed meal 0.97, oats linseed meal and hay 1.01. For steers in feedlot, gains were : oats 0.12, hay 0.33, oats and hay 0.41, oats linseed meal and hay 0.82. The feed consumption of the steers in the feedlot increased with the protein content of the ration and their liveweight gain was closely related to the amount of food consumed.