Dehydrated pellets for fattening steers

Gulf ryegrass and Sudangrass grow well in southwest Louisiana.They respond favorably to nitrogen fertilizer, producing high yields with in- creased crude protein content when thus fertilized.Both of these grasses are seasonal and therefore do not permit maximum pasture utilization.Gains on Sudangrass pasture have not been satisfactory for finishing steers at the Rice Experiment Station.It is desirable to utilize forage to the maximum extent in fattening rations since southwest Louisiana is a feed-grain deficient area.It appeared desirable to compare ryegrass and Sudangrass pellets as 40, 60, and 80% of the ration, to a 40% rice straw ration and to ryegrass grazing. REVIEW OF LITERATUREPelleting is an accepted method of increasing animal performance on high roughage rations.Oklahoma workers fed unpelleted rations contain- ing 65, 50, 35, and 20% roughage to Hereford calves and reported average daily gains of 1.72, 1.71, 1.53, and 1.61 pounds (Pope et al, 1957) and 2.18, 2.19, 2.12, and 2.12 pounds (McCroskey et al, 1958).The roughage in each ration consisted of equal parts of chopped alfalfa hay and cotton- seed hulls.The estimated slaughter grade was High Good to Low Choice.McCroskey et al. (1961) in two trials fed steers pelleted and unpelleted rations that had 1:4 and 4:1 concentrate:roughage ratios.The roughage consisted of equal parts of cottonseed hulls and chopped alfalfa hay.Steers gained 2.28 pounds per head per day when receiving the 1:4 pelleted ration, as compared with 1.86 pounds when they re- q w ifi o >o in ^