Twelve BritishContinental crossbred steers with
an initial mean body weight of 363726.5 kg(mean7
standard deviation)were randomly assigned to two pens
of six animals and fed experimental diets for 215 d from
December 2010 to July 2011 at the Lacombe Research
Centre, Alberta,Canada.Diets contained 70%red clover
silage, 15%steam rolled barley/vitamin–mineral supple-
ment and either additional 15% steam rolled barley or 15%
triple rolled flaxseed (all DM basis).Steers in each pen
were group fed and were capable of feeding at the feed
bunk at the same time(0.8 m of space at the bunk per
animal). Steers were fed to appetite and had free access to
clean water.Animals were cared for in accordance with
guidelines established by the Canadian Council on Animal
Care