Table 4.

Performance and dry matter intake (DMI) of beef heifers during the first trimester of gestation as influenced by vitamin and mineral supplementation [VMSUP; not supplemented (NoVTM) or supplemented (VTM)] and two different rates of gain [GAIN; low rate, 0.28 kg/d (LG) or moderate rate, 0.79 kg/d (MG)].

	NoVTM 1		VTM 2			p-Values
Item	LG	MG 3	LG	MG 3	SEM 4	VMSUP	GAIN	VMSUP × GAIN
Average Daily Gain 5, kg/d	0.35	0.82	0.32	0.88	0.04	0.72	<0.01	0.35
Total Mixed Ration DMI, kg/d	4.24	5.53	4.91	5.22	0.25	0.49	<0.01	0.08
Starch-based protein/energy supplement DMI, kg/d 6	0.00	1.93	0.00	1.94	0.26	0.79	<0.01	0.81
Total DMI, kg/d	4.63	7.87	5.34	7.57	0.29	0.50	<0.01	0.11
Gain:Feed	0.078	0.105	0.059	0.118	0.009	0.72	< 0.01	0.10

¹ NoVTM: No vitamin mineral supplement was a pelleted product fed at a 0.45 kg•heifer⁻¹•day⁻¹ with no added vitamin and mineral supplement. ² VTM: Vitamin mineral supplement was a pelleted product fed at a 0.45 kg•heifer⁻¹•day⁻¹ (consisting of 113 g of a vitamin and mineral supplement, formulated to deliver similar levels of vitamins and minerals that were fed pre-breeding and 337 g of a carrier). ³ Heifers fed a pelleted blend of ground corn, dried distillers grains plus solubles, wheat midds, fish oil, urea, and ethoxyquin fed at rate to achieve targeted gain of 0.79 kg/d for MG treatment. ⁴ NoVTM-LG (n = 9); NoVTM-MG (n = 9); VTM-LG (n = 9); VTM-MG (n = 8). ⁵ Calculated from the time of artificial insemination to d 83 of gestation. ⁶ Arthimetic means presented for consumption of the protein/energy supplement.