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Title: SUPPLEMENTING BAHIAGRASS HAY WITH MOLASSES OR MOLASSES-UREA WITH OR WITHOUT SOYBEAN HULLS

Author
item KOSTENBAUDER, M. - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item Coleman, Samuel
item Chase, Chadwick - Chad
item KUNKLE, W. - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item HALL, M. - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item MARTIN, F. - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/23/2003
Publication Date: 2/5/2003
Citation: Kostenbauder, M.J., Coleman, S.W., Chase, C.C., Kunkle, W.E., Hall, M.B., Martin, F.G. 2003. Supplementing bahiagrass hay with molasses or molasses-urea with or without soybean hulls [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 81(2):9.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of molasses or molasses-urea fed with or without soybean hulls on digestibility, intake and animal performance of cattle fed bahiagrass hay (8% CP). In exp. 1, Holstein steers were fed one of six diets: 1) hay only; 2) hay plus molasses (0.75% BW); 3) hay plus molasses-urea (3% of molasses); 4) hay plus soybean hulls (0.75% BW); 5) hay plus soybean hulls-molasses; and 6) hay plus soybean hulls-molasses-urea. Diet digestibility was increased with added molasses (P < 0.05) or soybean hulls (P < 0.01) but estimated hay and neutral detergent fiber digestibility were depressed with added molasses (P < 0.05). Neutral detergent fiber digestibility increased with added urea (P < 0.10) or soybean hulls (P < 0.05). Acid detergent fiber digestibility increased with soybean hulls supplementation (P < 0.01), decreased with molasses (P < 0.01), and was unaffected by urea supplementation. Nitrogen absorbed and retained, as a percentage of intake, were not affected by supplementation. Concentrations of plasma urea nitrogen, non-esterified fatty acid, and blood-glucose were not affected by diets. In exp. 2, the same diets as in exp. 1 were fed to 36 beef calves in Calan headgates for 43 d (6 calves/diet). Average daily gain was improved (0.2 vs. 0 kg/d; P < 0.01) with added soybean hulls, and also with urea (0.2 vs. -0.1 kg/d; P < 0.01). Plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) was higher with added soybean hulls and urea (P < 0.01 for day 20; P < 0.10 for day 43, respectively). Molasses decreased PUN concentrations at day 20 (P < 0.01). Blood-glucose was increased by added soybean hulls (P < 0.05) and urea (P < 0.10) both on day 20 and day 43. Soybean hulls can improve gains when used to supplement marginal quality hay without depressing digestibility of hay. Molasses depressed fiber digestibility, but adding urea restored digestibility and improved gains. Soybean hulls, Molasses-urea, Bahiagrass hay