The protein requirements of rapidly growing steers

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Abstract
1. Two growth trials and digestibility trials were carried out with 54 steers given diets containing either 11%, 14% or 17% crude protein in the dry matter and the same concentration of metabolisable energy. 2. There were no significant differences in either dry-matter intake or live-weight gain by the steers given the diets containing 14% or 17% crude protein. Dry-matter intake was lower for the steers given the diet containing 11% crude protein and their live-weight gain was lower up to 250 kg live weight. Beyond 250 kg live weight their live-weight gain was similar to that of the steers on the two other treatments. 3. Both dry-matter digestibility and apparent nitrogen digestibility were lowest for those steers given the diet containing 11% crude protein.