359 Using an Extruded 100% Dried Distillers' Grains Cube to Intensify Production in a Stocker Grazing Enterprise on Native Range in Northwestern Oklahoma

Abstract A 2-year experiment was conducted at the USDA-ARS Southern Plains Experimental Range (SPER) near Fort Supply, OK to define effects of supplementing steers grazing native range with extruded 100% dried distillers' grains (DDGS) cubes. Each year 126 (259 ± 43 kg) grazed from late May September allocated 3 treatments: 1) negative control (NC) stocked 2.4 ha/steer ad libitum mineral only, 2) positive (PC), supplemented 1.8 kg/steer on alternate days during summer ha/steer, and 3) high supplement (HS) fed 0.75% BW supplemental DDGS cubes all season 1.6 ha/steer. Data were analyzed across years using PROC MIXED in SAS as a complete block design random pasture within treatment by error term. Early ADG gains for HS 0.30 0.031 kg 20 2.1 greater (P < 0.01) than NC PC, respectively. However, PC 0.34 0.08 0.36 NC. Late did not differ ≥ 0.76) but 22.3 5.3 23.9 5.4 NC, Hence, overall ADG, total gain, gain/ha 0.32 0.04, 0.14 0.04; 42 5.4, 18 5.4; 53 2.2, 2.2 Supplementing is an effective management option increase stocking rates without negatively impacting individual animal performance, increasing gain/hectare.