Straw: Low-cost feed but not least cost

Whenever grain and hay prices are high, there is renewed interest in feeding cereal straws to growing cattle as a possible method of cutting costs. Feeding trials were conducted using cereal straws in rations formulated by a computer least-cost ration program. The growing phase compared barley straw with wheat straw with a further comparison of cottonseed meal (CSM) and urea as the nitrogen source. A standard ration was fed during the fattening phase.