Publication Date
1993
Description
In the temperate region of North America, high temperature and moisture deficit cause low forage growth during the summer of most years, making it difficult to grow beef (Bos taurus), calves through summer grazing. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), offers some potential to provide high dry matter production during summer if an effective system of grazing can be developed. The objective of this study was to test a system of intensive grazing of beef steers on alfalfa to maximise live-weight gains/ha and maintain plant population. Alfalfa was no-till seeded into a 6.5 ha field in autumn 1988 after no-till corn silage. The field was divided into 8 paddocks and graz:ed at 7.3 steers/ha (starting at 291 kg/steer average) in 1989, 1990 and 1991. Poloxalene for bloat protection was fed in about 0.9 kg ground corn/ head/day. Bach paddock was graz:ed 4 days, giving 28 days between consecutive grazings. In 1989, alfalfa was grazed 103 days and produced a gain of 612 kg/ha with an average daily gain (ADO) of 0.94 kg/head, Grazing periods were determined by availability of test animals and herbage mass. Alfalfa was grazed 117 days in 1990 with a gain of 534 kg/ha and ADO of 0,73 kg/head. Steers grazed alfalfa 152 days in 1991 and gained 820 kg/ha with ADO of 0.91 kg/head. The alfalfa stand had declined by the end of the test, but no more than would have been expected in a hay system (40-50 plants/m1).
Citation
Rasnake, M; Burris, W R.; Lacefield, G D.; Randolph, J; Gay, N; and Davis, L, "Intensive Grazing of Alfalfa by Beef Steers" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 31.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session37/31
Included in
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Intensive Grazing of Alfalfa by Beef Steers
In the temperate region of North America, high temperature and moisture deficit cause low forage growth during the summer of most years, making it difficult to grow beef (Bos taurus), calves through summer grazing. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), offers some potential to provide high dry matter production during summer if an effective system of grazing can be developed. The objective of this study was to test a system of intensive grazing of beef steers on alfalfa to maximise live-weight gains/ha and maintain plant population. Alfalfa was no-till seeded into a 6.5 ha field in autumn 1988 after no-till corn silage. The field was divided into 8 paddocks and graz:ed at 7.3 steers/ha (starting at 291 kg/steer average) in 1989, 1990 and 1991. Poloxalene for bloat protection was fed in about 0.9 kg ground corn/ head/day. Bach paddock was graz:ed 4 days, giving 28 days between consecutive grazings. In 1989, alfalfa was grazed 103 days and produced a gain of 612 kg/ha with an average daily gain (ADO) of 0.94 kg/head, Grazing periods were determined by availability of test animals and herbage mass. Alfalfa was grazed 117 days in 1990 with a gain of 534 kg/ha and ADO of 0,73 kg/head. Steers grazed alfalfa 152 days in 1991 and gained 820 kg/ha with ADO of 0.91 kg/head. The alfalfa stand had declined by the end of the test, but no more than would have been expected in a hay system (40-50 plants/m1).
