Forage Quality and Animal Performance of Steers Grazing Smooth Bromegrass/Legume Pastures

A trial was conducted to evaluate effects of interseeding legumes into smooth bromegrass pastures on animal performance and forage quality. Animal gains on legume/bromegrass treatments were higher than bromegrass alone. Laboratory analysis of diet samples collected from ruminally fistulated steers indicated no difference in the undegradable intake protein content of pastures. Legume/bromegrass treatments had higher IVDMD than the control. Therefore, the increases in gain are attributed to increased energy of legume/bromegrass diets and not undegradable protein content