Publication Date
1993
Description
Winter grazing of the fescue prairie is desirable to reduce the cost of feeding preserved forages and to conserving the native prairie. Rough fescue (Festuca campestris Rydb,), the dominant and most productive forage species in the foothills region, is highly sensitive to summer grazing but tolerates grazing while dormant. Since the forage quality declines after senescence, and the energy requirements increase in winter, this study was made to determine the feasibility of winter gmzing pregnant Hereford cows with and without preconditioning on annual pasture. The study, replicated over a 4-year period {n=4), used a 2x2 factorial design representing native or annual preconditioning treatment and native or feedlot winter-feeding treatment. Keeping cows on native range was the least costly but the animals were below their optimum condition for calving in late March. Preconditioning on annual pasture was less costly than feeding preserved forages but the risk of soil erosion with annual cultivation may make the practice unacceptable.
Citation
Willms, W D.; Rode, L M.; and Freeze, B S., "Winter Grazing Rough Fescue Grasslands With and Without Preconditioning on Annual Pasture" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 7.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session46/7
Included in
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Winter Grazing Rough Fescue Grasslands With and Without Preconditioning on Annual Pasture
Winter grazing of the fescue prairie is desirable to reduce the cost of feeding preserved forages and to conserving the native prairie. Rough fescue (Festuca campestris Rydb,), the dominant and most productive forage species in the foothills region, is highly sensitive to summer grazing but tolerates grazing while dormant. Since the forage quality declines after senescence, and the energy requirements increase in winter, this study was made to determine the feasibility of winter gmzing pregnant Hereford cows with and without preconditioning on annual pasture. The study, replicated over a 4-year period {n=4), used a 2x2 factorial design representing native or annual preconditioning treatment and native or feedlot winter-feeding treatment. Keeping cows on native range was the least costly but the animals were below their optimum condition for calving in late March. Preconditioning on annual pasture was less costly than feeding preserved forages but the risk of soil erosion with annual cultivation may make the practice unacceptable.
