A group of cows was slaughtered at the beginning to determine carcass quality and yield. At the end of the trial, all cows were slaughtered and carcass quality and yield was measured. The stargrass hay used was mature, low quality fall regrowth. Increased crude protein content of ammoniated hay is from anhydrous ammonia which is similar to crude protein from urea. Cows on all diets ate large quantities of ammoniated hay.
Ammoniated hay provides a base upon which supplementation programs can be developed.
Molasses or citrus pulp supplementation greatly improved daily gain. The amount of supplement offered was controlled, and cows would have consumed more of either supplement. Therefore, performance of these cows and economic evaluations are not intended to be absolute, nor is it intended that these be the only diets considered for winter feeding of cull cows. Daily costs of feeding and yardage were high primarily as a result of large intakes of ammoniated hay. Hay costs may be lower in some cases, particularly if a producer ammoniates hay that is weathered or several years old that without ammoniation has little value.