Twenty choice-quality Hereford heifer calves, average weight of
4.38 pounds each, were used. The heifers were purchased as calves
from the Lonker and the Hall-McNally ranches in Barber county, Kansas.
Allotment of the heifers was based on weight, feeder grade, and
origin.
The alfalfa hay and silage were harvested from the first-cutting
growth on the Animal Husbandry farm. The silage was allowed to
wilt from one to two hours in the harvesting process.
In the feeding trial, 3 pounds of alfalfa hay was fed to the cattle
of Lot 3 to provide readily available protein and dry roughage. The
heifers of Lot 3 were maintained at maximum consumption of alfalfa
silage, whereas the heifers of Lot 6 were restricted to the same dry
matter intake as Lot 3.
