Escape protein for beef cows: III. Performance of lactating beef cows grazing smooth brome or big bluestem

Grazing trials were conducted utilizing individually supplemented lactating beef cows in a 2-yr study to determine the effect of supplemental escape protein (EP) on cow/calf performance during the active growth periods of smooth brome and big bluestem. Graded levels (0, .11, .23, and .34 kg of EP/animal from an equal-protein-basis mixture of blood meal and corn gluten meal were offered daily, replacing corn starch and molasses, which was used as the energy control. All cows received 582 g of supplemental DM/d. Analyses for the smooth brome study indicated a cubic response (P less than .05) to milk production and calf daily gain. No response to EP supplementation (P greater than .10) was observed for the big bluestem study. Analysis of esophageal extrusa samples collected throughout the grazing seasons for both years demonstrated that quality of forage selected by the animal decreased as the trial progressed. Using a 16-h modified dacron bag technique that did not adjust for microbial attachment, protein escaping degradation for smooth brome and big bluestem was estimated to range from 7.0 to 14.5% and 22.2 to 30.3%, respectively. There was limited response to a moderate level of EP supplementation of lactating cows grazing smooth brome, but calf gains were depressed by both the low and the high levels of EP. Lactating cows grazing big bluestem did not respond to EP supplementation, but added energy supplement depressed calf gains.