Rumen Protected Amino Acids in Finishing Cattle Diets

A 190- d calf fed finishing study, utilizing 240 steers, was conducted to determine the effects of supplementing finishing cattle with bypass amino acids (methionine and lysine) on growth performance. Three treatments (control, methionine, methionine and lysine) were evaluated with 8 pens/trt. All cattle were fed a 40% Sweet Bran, 50% high moisture corn basal diet. Supplementing with bypass amino acids did not affect live cattle performance, and only small differences in 12th rib fat and USDA marbling score were observed. Lack of any dramatic changes in performance suggests these calves were not deficient in methionine or lysine