Track 2-2-2: Plant-Animal Interactions, Grazing Behaviour and Plant Quarantine
Description
From the nutritional standpoint, annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) can provide up to 32% crude protein which is approximately twice what a fall-weaned calf requires at that point in life (250 kg) with observed daily gains of 1 to 1.5 kg (Scaglia et al., 2009). Approximately 15% of the N that similar calves consumed while grazing cool season pastures is retained and 60% is excreted in urine (NRC, 1996). This lack of efficiency might be corrected by limiting access to ryegrass (high N content) while keeping cattle on low quality hay when off the pastures. The objective of the present experiment was to compare performance and grazing behavior of calves continuously stocked on annual ryegrass, grazing it or receiving hay on alternate days, or 72 h on ryegrass and 96 h with ad libitum access to hay.
Included in
Bermuda Grass Hay Did Not Improve Performance of Stocker Calves Grazing Annual Ryegrass at a High Stocking Rate
From the nutritional standpoint, annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) can provide up to 32% crude protein which is approximately twice what a fall-weaned calf requires at that point in life (250 kg) with observed daily gains of 1 to 1.5 kg (Scaglia et al., 2009). Approximately 15% of the N that similar calves consumed while grazing cool season pastures is retained and 60% is excreted in urine (NRC, 1996). This lack of efficiency might be corrected by limiting access to ryegrass (high N content) while keeping cattle on low quality hay when off the pastures. The objective of the present experiment was to compare performance and grazing behavior of calves continuously stocked on annual ryegrass, grazing it or receiving hay on alternate days, or 72 h on ryegrass and 96 h with ad libitum access to hay.
