Responses of Beef Cattle to Supplements of Protein or Non Protein Nitrogen When Grazing Native Pastures of the North Coast of New South Wales

Five experiments are reported in which young growing or breeding cattle were offered supplements which contained non protein nitrogen (NPN) or protein during winter when grazing carpet grass pastures. Significant and economic increases in growth were obtained when a slowly degradable protein pellet (cottonseed, meat and fish meals) 'was offered twice-aweek when available pasture was in excess of appetite. Increased calving % and reconception, as well as increased weaning weight of calves, were recorded when protein pellet was offered to young breeding stock. A smaller but significant response occurred in another experiment when the more degradable linseed meal was offered. In one . experiment, a NPN supplement improved calf weaning weight but not cow liveweight or fertility; in another, molasses plus NPN had no significant effect on cattle production.