July 11, 2002

Bison Producers Are Recommended to Increase Protein

Bison producers feeding bulls for meat should feed higher levels of protein if it is available, according to research done at the North Dakota State University’s Carrington Research Extension Center.

According to Vern Anderson, NDSU animal scientist at the Carrington Center, protein is a major issue in bison diets as it is usually the most expensive nutrient after minerals. He reports that supplemental feeding of concentrates is being practiced in some herds during severe inclement weather and to facilitate optimum growth of animals destined for meat.

"Producers are concerned with the metabolic and economic liability of providing too little or too much crude protein," Anderson says.

Research has proved that bison can adapt and survive at lower protein levels. However, it was unknown what the performance level would be when bison fed for meat were fed higher levels of protein. The study was done to compare animal performance and cost of gain at different protein levels. The research center used crude protein at the levels of 9.4, 11.6, 13.9 and 16.0 percent. Canola meal was used as the protein supplement in 75 percent concentrate diets along with corn, corn silage, prairie hay and a mineral supplement.

According to the study, over the entire feeding period the fastest average daily gain was with the 13.9 percent crude protein diet. Carcass traits were unaffected except for improvement in dressing percent and carcass value with higher levels of crude protein. Anderson recommends that producers feeding bulls for meat to feed higher level of protein if it is available at competitive costs.

"Feed cost per pound of gain increased with protein levels requiring increased gain to compensate for added feed costs," Anderson says.

NDSU’s Carrington Research Extension Center is the only bison research facility in the United States and is researching ways to supplement the grazing diet during the breeding season, in cases of mineral deficiency or where extra energy is required due to limited forage or other circumstances.

Anderson will talk more on the topic at the NDSU Carrington Livestock Field Day, Tuesday, July 16.

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Source: Vern Anderson, (701) 652-2951, vanderso@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Writer: Stephanie Renner, (701) 231-8371, Stephanie.Renner@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu