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Winter-annual pasture as a supplement for beef cows
S A Gunter1, K A Cassida, P A Beck
1Southwest Research and Extension Center, Department of Animal Science, University of Arkansas, Hope 71801-9729, USA. sgunter@uaex.edu
Journal of Animal Science
|May 22, 2002
Summary
Supplementing beef cows with winter-annual pasture, including wheat, rye, and ryegrass, maintained body condition similar to concentrate supplements. Grazing winter pasture twice weekly proved effective for lactating beef cows.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Forage and Grazing Management
- Beef Cattle Nutrition
Background:
- Winter feeding strategies are crucial for maintaining beef cow body condition and reproductive performance.
- Evaluating alternative forages like winter-annual pastures as supplements to traditional hay and concentrate feeds is essential for cost-effective herd management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of winter-annual pasture (wheat, rye, and ryegrass) as a nutritional supplement for pregnant and lactating beef cows.
- To compare the effects of limit grazing winter-annual pasture (2 or 3 days/week) versus a concentrate-based supplement on cow performance and reproductive outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments involving 120 pregnant beef cows each, stratified by BCS, BW, breed, and age.
- Cows received ad libitum hay plus one of three treatments: concentrate supplement (3 d/wk), limit grazing winter-annual pasture (2 d/wk), or limit grazing (3 d/wk).
- Cow body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), and conception rates were monitored, along with calf birth weight and growth performance.
Main Results:
- Limit grazing winter-annual pasture did not significantly affect cow BW compared to concentrate supplementation.
- Body condition score responses varied between experiments, with one showing higher BCS for pasture-grazed cows and the other showing lower.
- Conception rates were not significantly different between pasture-grazed and concentrate-fed cows; however, grazing 2 d/wk showed a trend towards higher conception than 3 d/wk in Exp. 2. Calf performance (birth weight, ADG) was unaffected by treatments.
Conclusions:
- Wheat and rye pasture serves as a marginal supplement for lactating beef cows.
- Limit grazing winter-annual pasture (wheat, rye, annual ryegrass) twice weekly effectively maintained cow BW and BCS comparable to concentrate supplementation.
- Increasing winter-annual pasture grazing from 2 to 3 days per week did not appear to further enhance cow performance.