Intensive Grazing Systems for Beef Cattle Production

Intensive Grazing Systems for Beef Cattle Production

The objective of this study was to compare grazing systems that used rotational and continuous stocking for beef cows-calves and stocker cattle grazing fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and clover (Trifolium repens). For each system seven cows/calves and seven stocker steers were used within each of two replicates. The cows and stockers grazed stockpiled forage and were fed hay in winter, and grazed growing forage during spring and summer. Cows in the rotational system gained at a faster rate (P< . 05) from October to April than those in the continuous system. Daily gains of calves were higher (P< . 05) for the continuous system. Rate of gain during the last 28 days was higher (P< . 05) for the stockers in the rotational system. Average hay yields were not different for the two stocking systems, but more (P< . 05) hay was fed to the cattle in the continuous system. The system that used continuous stocking was more easily managed and required less labor and facilities.