Evaluation of wheat variety, stocking density and self-limited energy supplements on performance of steers grazing winter wheat

cope and method of study. The objective of these studies was to improve the efficiency of wheat pasture grazing and grain operations in the Southern Great Plains by: (1) further development of a self-limited, monensin-containing energy supplement for growing cattle grazing winter wheat and (2) evaluating the effects of wheat variety and stocking rate on beef production and grain yield of hard red winter wheat. The effects of monensin and increasing levels of magnesium oxide on supplement intake and animal performance were determined through grazing studies using pinpointer feeders designed to measure individual animal supplement intakes. An additional trial using ruminally cannulated steers measured the effects of magnesium oxide on ruminal fermentation. Wheat variety and stocking rate relationships were evaluated using six varieties of wheat grazed during the fall and winter at four different stocking rates (.9 to 2.8 steers/ha) over a four-year period, with grazing terminated at first hollow stem stage of maturity.;Findings and conclusions. The addition of monensin to a self-limited energy supplement (165 mg/kg of supplement, as-fed) decreased (P...