Publication Date
1993
Description
Two systems of grazing management were compared in 3 trials conducted on annual or irrigated perennial pastures over different seasons in northern Victoria, Steers grazed either at low stocking rates or at high stocking rates together with maize silage feeding, The more intensely grazed steers grew faster on autumn perennial pastures but at similar rates to steers at low stocking rates on winterspring annual and on spring perennial pastures, Higher stocking rates increased live-weight gain per ha by 90% on winter-spring annual pastures, 101% on autumn perennial pastures and 53% on spring perennial pastures. This was associated with improvements in utilisation of the perennial pasture by 60% in autumn and 39% in spring. Because of the high frequency of wet winters, the feasibility of opportunity feedlotting was investigated with 2 maize silagebased diets. The Inclusion of 48% wheat increased growth rates from 0.93 to 1.33 kg/day in finishing steers. These results show the potential for maize silage to be incorporated into year-round, pasture-based beef finishing systems in southern Australia.
Citation
Wales, W J. and Moran, J B., "Effects of Increasing Stocking Rate and Feeding Maize Silage on Live-Weight Gain and Pasture Utilization by Beef Cattle in Southern Australia" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 14.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session37/14
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Effects of Increasing Stocking Rate and Feeding Maize Silage on Live-Weight Gain and Pasture Utilization by Beef Cattle in Southern Australia
Two systems of grazing management were compared in 3 trials conducted on annual or irrigated perennial pastures over different seasons in northern Victoria, Steers grazed either at low stocking rates or at high stocking rates together with maize silage feeding, The more intensely grazed steers grew faster on autumn perennial pastures but at similar rates to steers at low stocking rates on winterspring annual and on spring perennial pastures, Higher stocking rates increased live-weight gain per ha by 90% on winter-spring annual pastures, 101% on autumn perennial pastures and 53% on spring perennial pastures. This was associated with improvements in utilisation of the perennial pasture by 60% in autumn and 39% in spring. Because of the high frequency of wet winters, the feasibility of opportunity feedlotting was investigated with 2 maize silagebased diets. The Inclusion of 48% wheat increased growth rates from 0.93 to 1.33 kg/day in finishing steers. These results show the potential for maize silage to be incorporated into year-round, pasture-based beef finishing systems in southern Australia.
