Effects of Non-protein Nitrogen Supplement on Growth Performance of Graze Cattle

[Objective] The experiment was conducted to investigate the growth performance of graze cattle fed on non-protein nitrogen(NPN) supplement.[Method] The experiment was conducted in late spring and early summer before grazing.Thirty Chinese Simmental-Taihang taxa bulls at the age of 9-10 months weighing 150-170 kg were divided into the control group,experimental group 1 and experimental group 2,10 in each group.Each cattle in the experimental group 1 fed on the basal diet supplemented 1.0 kg cornmeal every day.Each cattle in the experimental group 2 fed on the basal diet supplemented 1.0 kg cornmeal and 0.25 kg NPN supplement every day.Those in the control group were fed on the basal diet.The experiment was performed for 100 d.[Result] The average daily gain of the experimental group 1 was 217 g larger than that of the control group,while the average daily gain of the experimental group 2 was 429 g larger than that of the control group.The differences in the average daily gain were significant between the three groups.[Conclusion] The growth performance of cattle grazed in northern slopes was obviously improved by supplementing a small amount of concentrate in feed.The improvement was more remarkable if a small amount of NPN supplement was also added in feed.