Alternative Energy and Protein Sources for Feeding Beef Cattle

Sharp increases in the price of common feeds such as corn and soybean meal periodically push cattle feeders to consider less common alternatives for feedlot diets. Besides local availability and price, other factors, including but not limited to, processing, maximum feeding rates, and nutrient composition, must be considered when deciding whether or not alternative feeds are a good buy. The following are some less common feeds and a discussion of their characteristics that would affect their use in growing and finishing diets for cattle