Responses to varying inclusion levels of canola meal as a grass-fed supplement for weaner calves

Managing the variability in pasture quality and quantity is a challenge for beef producers supplying to certified grassfed beef programs. In southern Australia, the quality during the summer-autumn period is often below the maintenance requirements for livestock. Traditionally, many producers supplement livestock with grains or a grain-based pellet to enhance energy and protein supplies for ruminants grazing on low quality pastures (Lee et al. 1985; Leng 1990). Canola meal (CM) is one protein supplement that has become more available, cost competitive and is an approved Pasturefed Cattle Assurance System (PCAS) supplement (PCAS 2016). Feeding standard guidelines have indicated the rate of supplementing CM can vary from 0.3 to 3 kg DM/d (Blackwood and Clayton 2007; Mailer 2004) for growing cattle. Therefore, the objective of this experiment is to determine the optimum inclusion rates for supplementing canola meal to weaner calves when offered low quality roughages.