Winter feed represents a major cost in the production of suckled calves. By using the summer grazing period to ensure that cows are housed in good body condition winter feed can be restricted. The controlled weight loss of cows through the winter subsidises food inputs (WRIGHT, RUSSEL and HUNTER, 1986). At High Mowthorpe a mixture of barley and urea (BU) has proved to be a cheap and successful supplement to ad-lib wheat straw as a winter ration for suckler cows. Rapeseed meal (RSM) and maize gluten (MG) are possible alternatives to BU. RSM and MG have two potential advantages in that they may be cheaper to purchase and that they eliminate the need for milling and mixing facilities. Provided cow performance is not adversely affected RSM and MG could offer scope for simplifying ration preparation and reducing winter feed costs.