Summer Precipitation and Steer Gain Interactions on Supplemented Shortgrass Range

Abstract

Supplementing late-summer native shortgrass range with 1.5 lb of cottonseed meal or 1.5 lb of sorghum grain resulted in similar 10-year average gains with yearling steers. During seven of ten years the steers receiving sorghum grain gained as much or more than cottonseed meal-fed steers. In the other three years animals fed cottonseed meal gained more during the supplementation period. This work indicates the occurrence of significant interactions in supplementation studies on native range in areas with variable climatic conditions. Specifically, the experiments suggest that if rainfall has been high and lush grass growth is present during late summer, animal response to a high protein supplement is greater than to an energy supplement. On the other hand, supplementing with grain appears as beneficial and less expensive than cottonseed meal in dry years.