Nitrogen metabolism in beef steers fed gamagrass or orchardgrass hay with or without a supplement

A 50:50 soybean hull:corn grain supplement fed at 0.75% of body weight (BW) decreased ad libitum gamagrass or orchardgrass hay intake by steers, but increased total dry matter (DM) intake, DM digestibility, N intake, and N retained. Supplementation had a greater effect on N metabolism in steers fed orchardgrass than steers fed gamagrass. Key words: Steers, beef, hulls, soybean, metabolism, nitrogen