Fifteen ruminally and 12 esophageally cannulated steers were randomly assigned to
receive low (LP), moderate (MP), and high (HP) crude protein (CP) supplements in a 23-day
winter grazing trial designed to evaluate dormant tallgrass forage intake and utilization.
Supplemental CP levels were 13, 26, or 39%, respectively. Forage organic matter (OM) intake
was greatest (P<.05) for the MP steers. Likewise, fiber (NDF) digestibility and ruminal fill
were largest (P<.10) for the MP treatment. Furthermore, the quality of diet selected tended
to improve with increasing supplemental protein concentration. Increasing CP concentration
in supplements dramatically improves the intake and utilization of dormant forage. In this study,
intake and digestibility were optimized with the MP supplement.
