VALUE OF FEATHER MEAL IN A MOLASSES-BASED LIQUID SUPPLEMENT FED TO YEARLING CATTLE CONSUMING A FORAGE DIET

Hydrolyzed feather meal (FM) was compared to other sources of CP to de termine its value as a protein source in a molasses-based liquid suppl ement. Ruminal N escape values (measured in situ) for FM, ring-dried b lood meal, cottonseed meal, and soybean meal approximated reported val ues. Ruminal N escape value for catfish meal was lower than values rep orted for other fish meals. In two trials (194 d), 84 yearling heifers were allotted to 12 pastures (3 pastures/treatment) and fed one of fo ur supplements (1.7 kg of DM . heifer(-1). d(-1)) containing either mo lasses and urea; molasses, urea, and FM; molasses, urea, FM, and catfi sh meal; or molasses, urea, FM, and catfish oil. Heifers were exposed to bulls for 60 d. In two trials, 112 steers were allotted to 16 pastu res (4 pastures/treatment) and fed one of four supplements (1.7 kg of DM . steer(-1) d(-1)) containing molasses and urea; molasses, urea and FM; molasses, urea, FM and ring-dried poultry blood meal; or molasses , urea, and poultry feathers and blood hydrolyzed together. In all tri als, cattle fed molasses containing FM had faster gains (P <.05) and h eifers had-heavier live weights at breeding (P <.05) and higher pregna ncy rates (P <.05) than cattle fed molasses and urea. Combining poultr y blood with molasses, urea, and FM improved (P <.05) steer gains in o ne of two trials. Combining catfish meal with molasses, urea, and FM d id not improve (P >.05) ADG or pregnancy rate of heifers. Combining ca tfish oil with molasses, urea, and FM increased (P <.05) ADG in one tr ial and blood cholesterol and live weight of heifers at breeding in bo th trials. It is concluded that protein feeds, such as FM, that contai n a large portion of ruminally undegradable protein may provide much o f the CP in Liquid supplements fed to growing cattle consuming moderat e-quality forage. Adding catfish oil to a Liquid supplement may improv e ADG and live weight of yearling heifers at breeding.