Publication Date
1997
Description
Performance and grazing time of cow-calf units and yearling steers were determined over four years on naturalized cool season pastures maintained at a sward height of 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, or 10-12 cm. Daily gains of cows and steers responded quadratically (P<0.05) to increasing sward heights, with gains maximized at 8-10 cm. Milk production of the cows and gain of the calves were not affected (P>0.10) by sward height. Grazing days (cow-calf unit/hectare) decreased linearly (P<0.01) with increasing sward height. The proportion of the day spent grazing for cows and steers decreased in a linear manner (P<0.05) as pasture height increased. Cows spent less time grazing than steers (P<0.05) at all but the low pasture height.
Citation
Prigge, E C.; Bryan, W B.; and Nestor, E L., "Sward Height on the Performance of Cow-Calf Units and Yearling Steers Grazing Cool Season Pasture" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 45.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session29/45
Included in
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Sward Height on the Performance of Cow-Calf Units and Yearling Steers Grazing Cool Season Pasture
Performance and grazing time of cow-calf units and yearling steers were determined over four years on naturalized cool season pastures maintained at a sward height of 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, or 10-12 cm. Daily gains of cows and steers responded quadratically (P<0.05) to increasing sward heights, with gains maximized at 8-10 cm. Milk production of the cows and gain of the calves were not affected (P>0.10) by sward height. Grazing days (cow-calf unit/hectare) decreased linearly (P<0.01) with increasing sward height. The proportion of the day spent grazing for cows and steers decreased in a linear manner (P<0.05) as pasture height increased. Cows spent less time grazing than steers (P<0.05) at all but the low pasture height.
