Protein Levels for Bulls: Comparison of Three Continuous Dietary Levels on Growth and Carcass Traits

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Abstract
In a 2-year study, 141 weanling Angus bulls were fed a corn-corn silage finishing diet in which three continuous levels (11.1,13.3 and 15.5%) of dietary protein were compared. Bulls fed the higher levels of protein (13.3 and 15.5%) gained more rapidly (P<.05) during the first 56 days of the 168-day trial. In the last 84 days, bulls fed the lowest level appeared to compensate so that 168-day gains did not differ significantly among the three protein levels. Since bulls fed the lowest level of protein gained at essentially the same rate as those fed higher levels, protein efficiency favored (P<.01) bulls fed the lowest levels of protein. Dry matter conversion to gain was not influenced by level of protein in the diet. Bulls fed the two higher levels of protein produced carcasses with greater (P<.05) fat cover than in carcasses from bulls fed the lowest level of protein. Continuous levels of dietary protein higher than 11% cannot be justified for beef bulls. However, weight gain was enhanced by higher levels of protein in the first 56 days of the trial when bulls weighed less than 300 kilograms. Copyright © 1978. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1978 by American Society of Animal Science.

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