Four winter protein supplementation schemes were studied using 116 beef cows grazing
Flint Hills range. The treatments were: 1) 4.0 lb soybean meal/sorghum grain (27.3% crude
protein (CP» per head daily (SS), 2) 4.0 lb dehydrated alfalfa pellets (DEHY. 20.0% CP) per
head daily (LO-DEHY), 3) 5.5 lb DEHY per head daily (HI-DEHY), and 4) DEHY fed at
levels calculated to provide 4.0 lb per head daily with less fed in early winter and more fed in
late winter (STAGGER-DEHY). The HI-DEHY and SS treatments resulted in higher (P<.05)
weight gains and smaller (P<.05) losses in body condition before calving than the other two
treatments. The HI-DEHY group had less cumulative weight loss (P<.05) at calving than the
SS group. Cow performance was similar (P>.10) for the LO-DEHY and STAGGER-DEHY
groups. Cow reproductive performance and calf birth weights and average daily gains were
unaffected (P>.10) by the treatments. All of the supplementation schemes evaluated in this
experiment appeared relatively satisfactory, given the initial condition of the cows. However,
the higher levels of nutrient supplementation (HI-DEHY and SS; 1 lb CP/d) would probably
sustain reproductive performance at a higher level over an extended period of time.
Additionally, when DEHY was fed at the low level, altering the schedule of feeding over the
winter did not appear to affect cow performance.
