Utilization of Urea and Fat in Meal and Pelleted Rations for Steers

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Abstract
A reduction of feedlot performance resulted when fat and urea were fed in combination, compared with isocaloric rations containing either urea or fat. A less severe depression was observed when fat was fed without urea. These depressions in both gain and feed efficiency were less with pelleted rations than with meal rations. Steers fed the urea ration had higher concentrations of VFA, lower percent acetate, greater percent propionate, more total nitrogen, more protein, more NPN and more nonammonia NPN per unit of ruminal fluid than steers fed fat and urea rations. Pelleting the urea ration decreased deposition of body fat, but pelleting the fat ration increased fat in the carcasses.