Source: UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS submitted to NRP
SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS FOR BACKGROUNDING AND GROWING CATTLE IN ARKANSAS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1001683
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Nov 5, 2013
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2018
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
(N/A)
FAYETTEVILLE,AR 72703
Performing Department
Animal Sciences
Non Technical Summary
Recently, as cost of gains during finishing have increased 85% from 2000 to 2011 (Waggoner, 2012), the value of BW gain (USDA, 2012) for stocker calves has increased by 134% from the annual average value of BW gain of approximately $50/45.4 kg in 1990-2000 to $111/45.4 kg in 2011, indicating an increase in the profit potential of stocker programs. There are approximately 840,000 calves produced annually in Arkansas, most of which are sold in the fall at weaning. The enterprise services that the stocker-cattle segment supplies to the beef industry are well characterized. These services include providing the market with immunocompetent weaned feeder cattle that have been acclimatized to feed bunks and water sources and have been grouped in load lots. Other services include providing placement area for calf numbers that are in excess of feedyard capacity at times of the year when large numbers of calves are marketed. Previous research indicates that the fall/winter grazing period is key to profitability of cool-season annual grazing programs. Hoveland (1986) stated that "The greatest opportunity for profitable beef production in the Southeastern U.S. is through retained ownership of calves through the stocker phase on high-quality pastures." Often performance of stocker calves during the fall and winter is lower than what can be expected due to low forage availability. If performance and stocking rate of small grains can be improved during the fall and winter, fewer calves would be purchased at seasonally high cost in the spring improving overall enterprise profitability. A series of studies is planned that will investigate optimal stocking rates based on available forage. The increased costs of feed and other production inputs has increased the emphasis on efficiency of production in drylot cattle growing systems based on total mixed diets. Novel feedstuffs and cropping residues have been used by producers with varying success. One aspect of this project will evaluate forage species and forage quality and how this effects calf performance when fed mixed diets post weaning. Other studies planned, will evaluate nutrient profile of the diets and how they effect animal performance. Increasing fuel and fertilizer costs have increased producer interest in growing systems that limit fertilizer and equipment costs. Pasture systems that decrease fertilizer expenses, such as changes in fertilizer rate and timing, increased use of clovers and other legumes needs evaluation in a controlled scientific evaluation. This project will evaluate establishment methods and grazing management that may impact the persistence of clovers and other legumes in pasture setting.
Animal Health Component
45%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
45%
Developmental
45%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3021610101050%
3023310101050%
Knowledge Area
302 - Nutrient Utilization in Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3310 - Beef cattle, live animal; 1610 - Pasture;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;
Goals / Objectives
1. Develop and evaluate forage based production systems for stocker cattle in Arkansas. Project 1a. Small grain pastures have been used for many years by stocker cattle producers in the High Plains, the Southeast, and the wheat belt of Oklahoma and Kansas. Stocking rate is a fundamental variable for managing pastures and there is a distinct relationship between stocking rate and animal performance for each forage type. The goal of this project is to determine the ideal stocking rate base on forage availability and animal body weight for producers in the Southeast and Southern Plains. Project 1b. Previous research conducted indicates that clovers and alfalfa interseeded into bermudagrass pastures can be used to replace synthetic N sources. Pastures containing clover or alfalfa produced similar ADG and more BW gain/ha than 112 kg/ha N rate. Legume use by producers in Arkansas would be greater if there was a greater assurance of achieving an adequate stand. It is normally recommended that a minimum of 25% legume is necessary for benefits to be measured in livestock gains and reduction in N fertilization. Research in Northern Arkansas indicates that if strips equaling 50% of pasture area are planted at 2x the normally recommended seeding rate (but equal seeding rate for the entire area) a 100% stand is often found within the strip. Furthermore, livestock can spread the legume seed from the strip seeded area to non-seeded area increasing the legume stand over time. The goal of this project is to determine the effect strip seeding has on animal performance and stand development and persistence in clover/grass mixed pastures. Project 1c. It has been noted in research from the Noble Foundation in Ardmore OK and the LFRS at Batesville AR that alfalfa in pastures tends to only have a viable stand for 3 years. This project intends to test the effect of grazing management (rotational vs continuous grazing) on persistence of alfalfa interseed into bermudagrass pastures. 2. Develop and evaluate feeding systems for growing weaned calves on byproduct based total mixed diets. Project 2. The goal of this project is to test the effect of level amino acids entering the small intestine as rumen bypass amino acid supplements on performance and feed efficiency of growing beef calves.
Project Methods
PROCEDURES: All animal procedures will be conducted in accordance with the recommendations of Consortium (1) and will be approved by the University of Arkansas Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Objective 1. Small Grain Stocking Rate Studies. Treatments: In this study, steer calves will be stocked during the fall at either: 1) the normal fall stocking rate of 2.5 calves/ha with large stocker calves (275 kg/head, NORMAL STOCKING) with a forage allowance of approximately 2.0 to 2.6 kg forage DM/kg BW; 2) stocking rate of 2.5 calves/ha (equal stocking rate to NORMAL STOCKING on head per ha basis) with small calves (180 kg/head, SMALL NORMAL) with a forage allowance of 3 to 4 kg forage DM/kg BW; 3) stocking of small calves on and equal BW/ha stocking rate (3.75 calves/ha with BW of 180 kg, SMALL HIGH STOCKING RATE) regardless of forage allowance; 4) stocking of small calves (180 kg/head) at an equal forage allowance basis to NORMAL STOCKING (2.6 kg forage DM/kg animal BW, SMALL FORAGE ALLOWANCE) ; and 5) stocking of small calves on an equal forage allowance per kg metabolic BW (13.2 kg forage DM/ kg metabolic BW) as NORMAL STOCKING (3.4 calves/ha 2.9 kg forage DM/kg BW; SMALL METABOLIC BW). At the end of the fall/winter grazing period large calves will be removed from pastures and small calves will be retained for spring grazeout. The following spring each of the pastures will be stocked with a stocking rate of 2.5 calves/acre, by utilizing the small calves grazed the previous fall with added calves to balance stocking rates or restocking with similar BW calves on NORMAL STOCKING. Legume Utilization Studies. Study 1. Utilization of Annual or Perennial Legumes for Grazing Calves in Southern Arkansas. The legumes white clover (Trifolium repens), red clover (Trifolium pretense), subterranean clover (Trifolium subteraneum) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) will be seeded at recommended rates (3.3 kg/ha, 17 kg/ha, 22 kg/ha, and 7 kg/ha; respectively) in solid stands or in strips totaling 50% of the pasture area at double the normally recommended seeding rate. For this study 36 - 0.8 ha pastures located at the SWREC Stocker Unit will be allocated to a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments study (n = 4 pastures/treatment) each pasture will be stocked with growing calves (BW = 220 kg) in the spring of each year and graze until early September. Each pasture will be subdivided into 8 paddocks for rotational grazing with paddocks being changed twice per week. Study 2. Effect of Grazing Management on Stocker Performance and Persistence of Alfalfa Interseeded Into Bermudagrass Sod. It has been noted in research from the Noble Foundation in Ardmore OK and the LFRS at Batesville AR that alfalfa in pastures tends to only have a viable stand for 3 years. At the LFRS, 16 ha of bermudagrass will be interseeded with 22 kg/ha of grazing tolerant alfalfa in the fall of 2013. This area will be divided into 10 - 1.6 ha pastures. Five pastures will be randomly selected for subdivision into 8 paddocks for rotational grazing and 5 pastures will be grazed using continuous grazing management. Each pasture will be stocked with 16 steer calves (BW = 220 kg/head) from mid-April to July and with 10 calves from July through August based for forage availability and weather conditions. Rotationally grazed pastures will be rotated to new paddock twice weekly. Performance of calves will be measured and persistence of the alfalfa stand will be determined over the course of the study using stand counts (step point method) in the spring and fall of each year. Forage analysis: Forage availability will be estimated monthly using a calibrated rising-plate meter (Michel and Large, 1983). Twenty height measurements will be taken from each pasture, rising plate readings will be calibrated by clipping the forage within two 30.5 x 30.5 cm quadrants in each pasture. Forage diet samples will collected monthly by hand plucking to mimic the forage consumed by grazing to characterize forage quality. Samples will be dried to a constant weight at 50° C in a forced-air oven, ground to pass a 2 mm screen in a Thomas Wiley Laboratory Mill (model 4, Thomas Scientific, Swedesboro, NJ), analyzed for DM and ash (AOAC, 1990); NDF and ADF (assayed by the batch procedures outlined by Ankom Technology Corp. Fairport, NY), and concentration of N determined by rapid combustion (FP-528, Leco Corp, St. Joseph, MI). Forage crude protein will be calculated as the percentage of N x 6.25. Objective 2. Feeding Studies. Weaned calves (n= 60 to 120) will be fed mixed diets at the Southwest Research and Extension Center research feedlot to test effects of forage quality and/or by-product feed on performance and DMI of calves fed mixed diets. Calves will be acclimated to diets by feeding a common basal diet during a 14-d period. Following the diet acclimation period, calves will be weighed (unshrunk) and assigned to 1 of 12 pens stratified by BW (n = 5 to 10 calves/pen). Pens will be then randomly assigned to treatment diets the feeding period. Feed will be offered once daily at 0800. Diet samples will be collected weekly for DM, ash, N, NDF, and ADF analysis. Calves will then be weighed (unshrunk) once every 2 wk before the morning feeding and orts will be collected at 0700 prior to weighing. Orts will be weighed and sampled for DM determination weekly. In situ disappearance and passage rate of hay and concentrate will be determined by collecting sub-samples of diets and dietary ingredients for analysis. One-gram aliquots will be weighed into nylon bags (7 cm x 7 cm; 25 um pore size) and heat-sealed using an impulse sealer (model CD-200; National Instrument Co., Inc., Baltimore, MD). Duplicate samples will be placed sequentially in the ventral rumen of 3 ruminally cannulated calves maintained on free-choice mixed grass (Paspalum dilatutum Poir. and Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.) hay (10% CP, 62% NDF, and 34% ADF; DM basis) in a completely randomized design. Samples will be soaked in water for 20 min before incubation of 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h in a mesh nylon bag. Upon removal, samples will be washed in a hand-operated washer (Wonder Clean; Wonder Wash Corp., Bala Cynwyd, PA) 10 times for 2 min each then dried at 50ºC for 48 h. Forage samples for each pasture and in situ samples from each steer will be analyzed for NDF by the batch procedures outlined by Ankom Technology Corp. (Fairport, NY). In order to measure passage rate of the hay and concentrate portions of the diet, 12 calves will be individually fed the diets for 14 d in a completely randomized design. Fecal Yb and Dy excretion curves will be analyzed by nonlinear regression procedures of SAS using a one-compartment model (Marquardt method) described by Krysl et al. (1985). Ruminal particulate passage rate will be determined by rate of ruminal mixing x 0.59635, mean ruminal retention time was calculated by 1/PPR, and fecal output will be determined by dose/K0.

Progress 11/05/13 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Stocker cattle and backgrounding cattle producers in the Southeastern United States, fellow scientists working with growing cattle in the SE United States and Southern Plains, and Cooperative Extension personnel in Arkansas and SE US. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? "What are the Benefits of VAC45 Programs?" Little River Cattlemen's Association Meeting. March 26, 2018. Ashdown, AR. "Keys to Stocker Cattle Profitability" Boehringer-Ingelheim Vetmedica SW Arkansas Stocker Health and Marketing Meeting, Texarkana, TX, September 7, 2018. "Keys to Stocker Cattle Profitability" Boehringer-Ingelheim Vetmedica Four States Cattle First Meeting, Springfield, MO, July 27, 2018. "Recent Advances in Animal Health and Receiving Programs" Boehringer-Ingelheim Vetmedica North Arkansas Stocker Health and Marketing Meeting, Morrilton, AR, June 8, 2018. "Keys to Stocker Cattle Profitability" Boehringer-Ingelheim Vetmedica SW Missouri Stocker Health and Marketing Meeting, Joplin, MO, May 17, 2018. "Techniques in Baled Silage Production" Livestock & Forestry Research Station Conserved Forages Field Day, Batesville, AR, May 8, 2018. "Recent Receiving Cattle Health Research at the LFRS" Livestock & Forestry Research Station Stocker Health Field Day, Batesville, AR April 17, 2018. "Management strategies for intensive, sustainable beef cattle production on tall fescue and winter annuals." Georgia Forages Conference at the Georgia Cattlemen's Convention. Perry, GA. April 5, 2018. "Benefits and limitations to replacing commercial N with legumes in bermudagrass-based pastures." Georgia Forages Conference at the Georgia Cattlemen's Convention. Perry, GA. April 5, 2018. "Dealing with Poor Forage Production - What happened in 2017 and how to deal with it in 2018" Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Winter Meeting. February 22, 2018. Conway, AR. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? objective 1a. The objectives of this experiment were to determine how fall wheat forage production and animal performance are affected by establishment method (conventional tillage [CT] vs no-till [NT]) and timing in dedicated wheat fields (1.6-ha). No-till pastures were planted on August 15 (n = 8), September 1 (n = 8), or September 15 (n = 8) and CT on September 1 (n = 3) or September 15 (n = 3). Preconditioned steers (n =236, BW = 245 ± 21.1 kg) were placed on wheat pasture when forage mass reached a minimum of 1,100 kg DM/ha. Steers were destocked from pastures on 23 February 2015 and 11 February 2016. Forage mass was estimated monthly using a calibrated rising plate meter, with 20 plate readings per pasture. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using the mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). Forage mass in November for NT did not differ (P = 0.91) between the August 15 (1,525 ± 386 kg/ha) and September 1 (1,548 ± 386 kg/ha) planting dates, but were greater than (P = 0.05) September 15 (1,153 ± 386 kg/ha). November forage mass for CT planted on September 1 (1,982 ± 426 kg/ha) tended (P = 0.10) to be greater than CT planted on September 15 (1,444 ± 426 kg/ha) and NT planted on August 15 or September 1. No-till planting on September 15 (1,153 ± 386 kg/ha) produced less (P ≤ 0.05) forage in November than other planting methods. The average starting date of grazing was November 26 for CT planted on September 1 or September 15 and NT planted on August 15 or September 1; while the average starting date of grazing was delayed (P < 0.01) until December 8 for the NT September 15 planting. Initial forage allowance (3.79 ± 0.93 kg forage DM/kg steer BW) did not differ (P ≥ 0.84) among tillage methods and planting dates and thus ADG (1.24 ± 0.10 kg/d) did not differ (P = 0.63) among planting methods. Steer grazing d per hectare and BW gain per ha were reduced (P ≤ 0.02) by NT planting on September 15. Planting wheat pasture in mid-August using NT did not result in improved forage production or animal gains compared with CT or NT on September 1. If planting is delayed until mid-September, use of CT provides advantages over NT. Objective 1c. Rotational grazing management is commonly recommended to improve persistence of legumes interseeded into bermudagrass, but impacts on animal performance are poorly understood. Steers (n = 365, BW = 249 ± 22.9 kg) grazed mixed alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) /bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.) pastures (n = 10; 1.6-ha) with either continuous grazing (CONT) or rotational grazing (ROT) management over 3 yr. Initial stocking rate was set at 6.25 steers/ha. When forage allowance of CONT became limiting in mid-July each year, two randomly selected steers were removed from all pastures to maintain equal stocking rates in CONT and ROT. Rotational grazing pastures were divided into 8 paddocks with 3-d grazing and 21-d rest between grazing events. Initial, final, and interim (28-d) BW were collected following a 16-h removal from feed and water. Data were analyzed as a repeated measures experiment with completely random design using the mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) using pasture within treatment by year in the random statement. Across years, steer BW did not differ (P ≥ 0.47) at the mid-point or end of the grazing season. Daily BW gains during the early summer period tended (P = 0.10) to be 0.11 kg greater for CONT than ROT in yr 1, but did not differ (P ≥ 0.24) in yr 2 and 3. In the late summer, ADG was 0.15 kg less (P < 0.01) for CONT than ROT in yr 1, were not different (P = 0.23) in yr 2, and were 0.29 kg less (P < 0.01) for CONT than ROT in yr 3. Over the entire experimental period, ADG did not differ (P ≥ 0.67) in yr 1 or 2, but tended (P = 0.09) to be 0.10 kg greater for ROT than CONT in yr 3. Forage mass of ROT was greater (P < 0.01) than CONT throughout the grazing season. Because stocking rates were maintained at the same level, ROT pastures provided greater (P < 0.01) forage allowance during the grazing season than CONT explaining differences in ADG between treatments. Alfalfa stand percentage did not differ (P = 0.79) at the beginning of the experiment, but were less (P ≤ 0.03) for CONT than ROT at all other sampling dates. These data indicate that at equal stocking rates, ROT can maintain greater alfalfa persistence, forage nutritive quality, and forage allowance compared with continuous grazing and provided increased animal performance during the late summer when the alfalfa stand was reduced in CONT pastures.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Beck, P. A., W. Galyen, D. Hubbell, III, and T. Hess. 2018. Effect of tillage system and planting date of wheat pasture on forage production and performance of grazing steers. Prof. Anim. Sci submitted
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Diaz, J., M., S. Gadberry, P. A. Beck, J. T. Richeson, G. D. Hufstedler, D. S. Hubbell, III, J. D. Tucker, T. Hess, and K. G. Pohler. 2018. Performance-enhancing technologies for steers grazing tall fescue patures with varying levels of toxicity. J. Anim. Sci. 96:3712-3727. doi: 10.1093/jas/sky2
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Dillard, S. L., D. W. Hancock, D. N. Harmon, M. K. Mullenix. P. A. Beck, and K. J. Soder. 2018. INVITED: Animal performance and environmental efficiency of cool- and warm-season annual grazing systems. J. Anim. Sci. 96:3491-3502. doi: 10.1093/jas/sky025
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Ball, J. J., E. B. Kegley, P. A. Beck, J. K. Apple, D. R. Cox, and J. G. Powell. 2018. Effect of injectable castration regimen on beef bull calves. Prof. Anim. Sci. 34:218-222. https://doi.org/10.15232/pas.2017-01671
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Rivera, J., R. Reuter, A. LaManna, P. Beck, and S. Gunter. 2018. Invited: Forage use in stocker programs as part of as sustainable beef production system. J. Anim. Sci. (Annual Meeting Abstr.)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Beck, P., C. Weiss, D. Hubbell, T. Hess, E. Kegley, J. Jennings. And S. Gadberry. 2018. Economics of replacing N fertilization with legumes in bermudagrass pastures for growing beef steers in the Southeastern USA. J. Anim. Sci. (Annual Meeting Abstr.)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Diaz, J. M., M. S. Gadberry, P. A. Beck, and D. S. Hubbell. 2018. Grazing patch intensity of calves grazing tall fescue with varied toxicity and fescue stand percentage. J. Anim. Sci. 96 (Suppl 1):37-38 (Abstr.)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Weiss, C., P. Beck, T. Crook, S. Gadberry, T. Hess, and D. Hubbell. 2018. Effect of monensin level on mineral intake and performance of grazing steers. J. Anim. Sci. 96 (Suppl 1):35 (Abstr.)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Beck, P. A., C. Weiss, T. Hess, and D. S. Hubbell. 2018. Effect of tillage system and planting date on wheat forage production and performance of growing steers. J. Anim. Sci. 96 (Suppl 1):35-36 (Abstr.).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Glascock, T. W., J. K. Apple, J. G. Powell, P. A. Beck, J. T. Sawyer, and J. J. Ball. 2018. Evaluation of production economics and value of carcasses processed into wholesale from steers finished in a conventional system compared to carcasses processed into ground beef from steers finished in a grass-based system. J. Anim. Sci. 96 (Suppl 1):28 (Abstr.).


Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Stocker cattle and backgrounding cattle producers in the Southeastern United States, fellow scientists working with growing cattle in the SE United States and Southern Plains, and Cooperative Extension personnel in Arkansas and SE US. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project afforded the opportunity for the following 3 presentationas at Cooperative Extension Agent In-Service trainings "Feedlot Close-outs and Measures of Feed Efficiency" Beef Cattle Basics In-Service Training. Batesville, AR April 4-5, 2017. "Timeline for Winter Annuals and Stockpiling for Fall and Winter Grazing" Northern Arkansas Forages In-Service Training. Batesville, AR January 18, 2017. "Effect of Planting Date on Fall Forage Production in a Wheat Pasture Cropping System" Northern Arkansas Forages In-Service Training. Batesville, AR January 18, 2017. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Four States Cattle Conference (Chair of Planning Committee) - Regional extention meeting planned by a committee including specialists and county agents from Texas AgriLife Extension, LSU AgCenter, Oklahoma State Extension, and UA Division of Ag. Program content and priorities are developed based on county ag agent input from local stakeholder meetings in the 4 states. Southern States Forage Conference - Regional extention meeting planned by a committee including specialists and county agents from Texas AgriLife Extension, LSU AgCenter, Oklahoma State Extension, and UA Division of Ag. Program content and priorities are developed based on county ag agent input from local stakeholder meetings in the 4 states. Arkansas Forage and Grasslands Council 2017 Fall Conference and Ranch Tour - Annual conference planned by members of the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council made up of producers, allied industry, USDA, and University personnel. UA Livestock and Forestry Research Station Field Day. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue to follow the outlined experimental protocols to finalize proposed research and initiate data analysis and write up.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? objective 1a.The objectives of this experiment were to determine how fall wheat forage production and animal performance are affected by establishment method (conventional tillage [CT] vs no-till [NT]) and timing in dedicated wheat fields (1.6-ha). No-till pastures were planted on August 15 (n = 8), September 1 (n = 8), or September 15 (n = 8) and CT on September 1 (n = 3) or September 15 (n = 3). Preconditioned steers (n =236, BW = 245 ± 21.1 kg) were placed on wheat pasture when forage mass reached a minimum of 1,100 kg DM/ha. Steers were destocked from pastures on 23 February 2015 and 11 February 2016. Forage mass was estimated monthly using a calibrated rising plate meter, with 20 plate readings per pasture. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using the mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). Forage mass in November for NT did not differ (P = 0.91) between the August 15 (1,525 ± 386 kg/ha) and September 1 (1,548 ± 386 kg/ha) planting dates, but were greater than (P = 0.05) September 15 (1,153 ± 386 kg/ha). November forage mass for CT planted on September 1 (1,982 ± 426 kg/ha) tended (P = 0.10) to be greater than CT planted on September 15 (1,444 ± 426 kg/ha) and NT planted on August 15 or September 1. No-till planting on September 15 (1,153 ± 386 kg/ha) produced less (P ≤ 0.05) forage in November than other planting methods. The average starting date of grazing was November 26 for CT planted on September 1 or September 15 and NT planted on August 15 or September 1; while the average starting date of grazing was delayed (P < 0.01) until December 8 for the NT September 15 planting. Initial forage allowance (3.79 ± 0.93 kg forage DM/kg steer BW) did not differ (P ≥ 0.84) among tillage methods and planting dates and thus ADG (1.24 ± 0.10 kg/d) did not differ (P = 0.63) among planting methods. Steer grazing d per hectare and BW gain per ha were reduced (P ≤ 0.02) by NT planting on September 15. Planting wheat pasture in mid-August using NT did not result in improved forage production or animal gains compared with CT or NT on September 1. If planting is delayed until mid-September, use of CT provides advantages over NT. Objective 1c.Rotational grazing management is commonly recommended to improve persistence of legumes interseeded into bermudagrass, but impacts on animal performance are poorly understood. Steers (n = 365, BW = 249 ± 22.9 kg) grazed mixed alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) /bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.) pastures (n = 10; 1.6-ha) with either continuous grazing (CONT) or rotational grazing (ROT) management over 3 yr. Initial stocking rate was set at 6.25 steers/ha. When forage allowance of CONT became limiting in mid-July each year, two randomly selected steers were removed from all pastures to maintain equal stocking rates in CONT and ROT. Rotational grazing pastures were divided into 8 paddocks with 3-d grazing and 21-d rest between grazing events. Initial, final, and interim (28-d) BW were collected following a 16-h removal from feed and water. Data were analyzed as a repeated measures experiment with completely random design using the mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) using pasture within treatment by year in the random statement. Across years, steer BW did not differ (P ≥ 0.47) at the mid-point or end of the grazing season. Daily BW gains during the early summer period tended (P = 0.10) to be 0.11 kg greater for CONT than ROT in yr 1, but did not differ (P ≥ 0.24) in yr 2 and 3. In the late summer, ADG was 0.15 kg less (P < 0.01) for CONT than ROT in yr 1, were not different (P = 0.23) in yr 2, and were 0.29 kg less (P < 0.01) for CONT than ROT in yr 3. Over the entire experimental period, ADG did not differ (P ≥ 0.67) in yr 1 or 2, but tended (P = 0.09) to be 0.10 kg greater for ROT than CONT in yr 3. Forage mass of ROT was greater (P < 0.01) than CONT throughout the grazing season. Because stocking rates were maintained at the same level, ROT pastures provided greater (P < 0.01) forage allowance during the grazing season than CONT explaining differences in ADG between treatments. Alfalfa stand percentage did not differ (P = 0.79) at the beginning of the experiment, but were less (P ≤ 0.03) for CONT than ROT at all other sampling dates. These data indicate that at equal stocking rates, ROT can maintain greater alfalfa persistence, forage nutritive quality, and forage allowance compared with continuous grazing and provided increased animal performance during the late summer when the alfalfa stand was reduced in CONT pastures.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Beck, P. A., D. S. Hubbell, T. W. Hess, K. D. Wilson, and J. A. Williamson. 2017. Effect of a forage-type soybean cover crop on wheat forage production and animal performance in a continuous wheat pasture system. Prof. Anim. Sci. 33:659-667. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15232/pas.2017-01660
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Beck, P. A., M. B. Sims, E. B. Kegley, D. Hubbell, T. Hess, W. Galyen, T. Butler, J. Rogers, and J. Jennings. 2017. Grazing management of mixed alfalfa bermudagrass pastures. J. Anim. Sci. 95:4421-4429. doi:10.2527/jas2017.1856
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Beck, P. A., M. S. Gadberry, C. B. Stewart, H. C. Gray, T. J. Wistuba, M. D. Cravey, and S. A. Gunter. 2017. Effects of a blend of garlic and cinnamon essential oil extract with and without monesin sodium on the performance of grazing steers. Prof. Anim. Sci. 33:176-185
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Beck, P., T. Hess, D. Hubbell, M. S. Gadberry, J. Jennings, and M. Sims. 2017. Replacing synthetic N with clovers or alfalfa in bermudagrass pastures. 1. herbage mass and pasture carrying capacity. Anim. Prod. Sci. 57: 539-546. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AN15045
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Beck, P., T. Hess, D. Hubbell, M. S. Gadberry, J. Jennings, and M. Sims. 2017. Replacing synthetic N with clovers or alfalfa in bermudagrass pastures. 2. Herbage nutritive value for growing beef steers. Anim. Prod. Sci. 57: 547-555. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AN15046
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Beck, P., T. Hess, D. Hubbell, M. S. Gadberry, J. Jennings, and M. Sims. 2017. Replacing synthetic N with clovers or alfalfa in bermudagrass pastures. 3 Performance of growing steers. Anim. Prod. Sci. 57:556-562. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AN15047
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Beck, P. 2017. Effects of Tall Fescue Toxins on Finishing Performance. Livestock and Forestry Research Station Field Day Proceedings. April 18, 2017
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Diaz, J. M., M. S. Gadberry, P. A. Beck, J. T. Richeson, G. D. Hubstedler, D. S. Hubbell, J. D. Tucker, and T. Hess. 2017. Effect of supplementation and implanting on grazing behavior of calves on tall fescue of varied toxicity levels. J. Anim. Sci. 95 (Suppl.4): 134-135 (Abstr.). doi:10.2527/asasann.2017.271
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Diaz, J., S. Gadberry, P. Beck, D. Hufstedler, D. Hubbell, III, J. Tucker, and T. Hess. 2017. Response of growing cattle to a cumulative management strategy including an implant, ionophore, and byproduct feed supplementation while grazing tall fescue pastures with varying toxicicity. J. Anim. Sci. 95 (Suppl. 1): 28 (Abstr.)


Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Stocker cattle and backgrounding cattle producers in the Southeastern United States, fellow scientists working with growing cattle in the SE United States and Southern Plains, and Cooperative Extension personnel in Arkansas and SE US. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? "Importance of Timing for Planting Cool-Season Annual Forages and Stockpiling Perennials" SW Arkansas Forages In-Service Training. Hope, AR August 30, 2016. "Importance of Timing for Planting Cool-Season Annual Forages and Stockpiling Perennials" NW Arkansas Forages In-Service Training. Fayetteville, AR August 25, 2016. "Using implants for growing cattle" New Agent In-Service Training, Batesville, AR, May 11, 2016 "Extending the Grazing Seasons with Improved Forage Management" Forage In-Service Training, Hope AR. March 2, 2016. "Production and Management of Calves Grazing Cool-Season Annual Pastures" Forage In-Service Training, Fayetteville AR November 10, 2015. "Extending the Grazing Seasons with Improved Forage Management" Forage In-Service Training, Hope AR. March 2, 2016. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Livestock and Forestry Resarch Station Field Day, Batesville AR April 19, 2016 Four States Cattle Conference Texarkana AR December 13, 2016 "So you want fall and winter pasture? When and How to Make It Happen" Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Conference, El Paso, AR, October 28, 2016. "Forage Based Stocker Cattle Research at the Livestock and Forestry Research Station" State Legislature Agriculture Committee Interpretive Event. Livestock and Forestry Research Station, Batesville, AR, September 21, 2016. "Effect of Grazing Management on Performance of Steers Grazing Mixed Alfalfa and Bermudagrass Pasture" Livestock and Forestry Research Station Field Day. April 19, 2016. "2016 Beef Cattle Market Outlook" Hay Production Field Day, Guthrie, OK. April 2, 2016. "Performance of Livestock Grazing Non-Toxic Endophyte Infected Tall Fescue." Forages Field Day. Ashdown, AR. March 28, 2016. Managing Forages in the Stocker Operation". 2016 Mid-South Stocker Conference. Cave City, KY. February 18, 2016. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Livestock and Forestry Resarch Station Field Day, Batesville AR April 19, 2016 Four States Cattle Conference Texarkana AR December 13, 2016

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Forage mass in November for NT did not differ (P = 0.91) between the August 15 (1,525 ± 386 kg/ha) and September 1 (1,548 ± 386 kg/ha) planting dates, but were greater than September 15 (1,153 ± 386 kg/ha). November forage mass for CT planted on September 1 (1,982 ± 426 kg/ha) tended (P = 0.10) to be greater than CT planted on September 15 (1,444 ± 426 kg/ha) or NT planted on August 15 or September 1. No-till planting on September 15 (1,153 ± 386 kg/ha) produced less (P ≤ 0.05) forage in November than other planting methods. The average starting date of grazing was November 26 for CT planted on September 1 or September 15 and NT planted on August 15 or September 1; while the average starting date of grazing was delayed (P < 0.01) until December 8 for the NT September 15 planting. Initial forage allowance (3.79 ± 0.93 kg forage DM/kg steer BW) did not differ (P ≥ 0.57) among tillage methods and planting dates and thus ADG (1.24 ± 0.10 kg/d) did not differ (P ≥ 0.20) among planting methods. Steer grazing d per hectare and BW gain per ha were reduced (P ≤ 0.02) by NT planting on September 15. Planting wheat pasture in mid-August using NT did not result in improved forage growth or animal gains compared with CT or NT on September 1. If planting is delayed until mid-September, use of CT provides advantages over NT.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Troxel, T. R., M. S. Gadberry, and P. A. Beck. 2016. Temperature, humidity, and dewpoint of six commercial trailer compartments during summer transportations of beef calves in the mid-south. Prof. Anim. Sci. 32:461-469. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15232/pas.2015-01470
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Beck, P., T. Hess, D. Hubbell, M. S. Gadberry, J. Jennings, and M. Sims. 2016. Replacing synthetic N with clovers or alfalfa in bermudagrass pastures. I. Stand persistence, herbage mass and pasture carrying capacity. Anim. Prod. Sci. (Published online April 20, 2016). http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AN15045
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Beck, P., T. Hess, D. Hubbell, M. S. Gadberry, J. Jennings, and M. Sims. 2016. Replacing synthetic N with clovers or alfalfa in bermudagrass pastures. II. Herbage nutritive quality for growing calves. Anim. Prod. Sci. (Published online April 20, 2016). http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AN15046
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Beck, P., T. Hess, D. Hubbell, M. S. Gadberry, J. Jennings, and M. Sims. 2016. Replacing synthetic N with clovers or alfalfa in bermudagrass pastures. III Performance of growing calves. Anim. Prod. Sci. (Published online April 20, 2016). http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AN15047
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Beck, P. 2016. Effect of Grazing Management on Performance of Steers Grazing Mixed Alfalfa and Bermudagrass Pasture. Livestock and Forestry Research Station Field Day Proceedings. April 19, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Beck, P. 2016. Managing Forages in the Stocker Operation. 2016 Mid-South Stocker Conference Proceedings. Cave City, KY. February 18, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Beck, P. A., W. Galyen, T. Hess, and D. S. Hubbell, III. 2016. Effect of tillage and planting date of wheat pasture on forage production and calf performance. J. Anim. Sci. 94 (E-Suppl. 5):310-311. (Abstr.).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Galyen, W. L., T. Hess, D. S. Hubbell, M. S. Gadberry, E. B. Kegley, M. Cravey, J. G. Powell, and P. A. Beck. 2016. Effects of bambermycin or monensin on performance of growing steers grazing wheat pasture. J. Anim. Sci. 94 (Suppl. 1):28 (Abstr.)


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Stocker cattle and backgrounding cattle producers in the Southeastern United States, fellow scientists working with growing cattle in the SE United States and Southern Plains, and Cooperative Extension personnel in Arkansas and SE US. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? "Production and utilization of cool season annual forages for beef cattle." Mississippi Forage and Grassland Council, October 6, 2015, Newton, MS. "Using Growth Promoting Technologies for Developing Replacement Heifers" Livestock and Forestry Research Station Field Day, Batesville, AR, April 21, 2015. "Production and Management of Calves Grazing Cool-Season Annual Pastures" Forage In-Service Training, Fayetteville AR November 10, 2015. "Forage and Feed Testing for Producer Ration Balancing" Livestock Nutrition In-Service - South. Hope AR February 12, 2015 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Livestock and Forestry Resarch Station Field Day, Batesville AR April 21, 2015 Four States Cattle Conference Texarkana AR December 8, 2015 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Research described herein will be replicated to further illucidate impacts of these management factors on animal productivity and forage persistence and productivity. Results of above described research will be presented at the Four States Cattle Conference (a multistate Cooperative Extention effort involving Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana), and will be presented to county Extension agents in Arkansas in various In-Service trainings. Research results will be presented at the American Society of Animal Science Southern Section meeting and the Joint Annual Meeting of ADSA and ASAS.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Project 1a. This research was designed to quantify the relationship between stocking rate (SR) and performance of growing steers of varying BW on wheat pasture (n = 10, 1.6 ha pastures).Total BW gain during the fall was greater (P = 0.01) for LT than LTFA and HVY tended (P = 0.10) to have greater fall total BW gain than LTFA but did not differ (P = 0.31) from LT. Fall ADG of LT was greater (P < 0.01) than LTFA and tended (P = 0.07) to be greater than HVY, while HVY and LTFA did not differ (P = 0.38). During the spring ADG and total BW gain were of HVY and LT were increased (P < 0.01) compared with LTFA. Overall grazing-d/ha was greater (P < 0.01) for LTFA than HVY and LT, yet total BW gain/ha did not differ (P = 0.21). Profitability of fall purchased steers was greater (P < 0.01) for LT than LTFA which in turn was greater (P < 0.01) than HVY, but did not differ due to treatment for spring purchased steers. Profit per hectare did not differ (P = 0.73) among treatments, averaging $781 ± 350/ha. Project 1b. Eighteen 1.6-ha warm-season grass pastures at the Southwest Research and Extension Center Stocker Unit were interseeded to white (WHT, Trifolium repens), red (RED, Trifolium pratense), or subterranean (SUB, Trifolium subterraneum) in October, 2013 either across the entire pasture (SOLID) at the recommended rate (2.2, 8.9, and 22, kg/ha, respectively) or in strips (STRIP) at twice the recommended rate in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Pastures were stocked with growing heifers (n = 5/pasture, BW = 298 ± 6.0 kg) from 21 May to 10 September. Each pasture was split into two 0.8 ha paddocks, heifers grazed paddocks on alternating weeks. Stand counts, forage mass, and diet samples were collected monthly across each pasture and heifers were weighed full at the initiation and termination of grazing. Forage data were analyzed as a repeated measures design, and animal performance was analyzed by ANOVA using PROC MIXED in SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). There were no interactions (P ≥ 0.78) between clover species and seeding method on heifer performance. Total gain and ADG per heifer from RED (64 ± 3.6 and 0.58 ± 0.03 kg, respectively) were greater (P = 0.02) than SUB (49 ± 3.9 and 0.44 ± 0.03 kg, respectively) and tended (P = 0.10) to be greater than WHT (56 ± 3.2 and 0.49 ± 0.03 kg, respectively), but did not differ (P = 0.84) by planting method. There was a treatment by sampling date interaction (P < 0.01) for clover stand counts. In May, SOLID RED (62 ± 5.1%) had greater (P = 0.02) stand counts than STRIP RED (43 ± 5.1%); yet, in SUB (42 ± 5.1%) and WHT (36 ± 5.1%), stand counts did not differ (P ≥ 0.25) in SOLID or STRIP. In June, SOLID RED (65 ± 5.1%) had greater (P = 0.05) stand counts than STRIP RED (50 ± 5.1%) and WHT SOLID (46 ± 5.1%) tended (P = 0.07) to have greater stand count that WHT STRIP (33 ± 5.1%); while in SUB (11 ± 5.1%), stand counts did not differ (P = 0.25) in SOLID or STRIP. In September, stand counts were very low (< 10%), and there was no difference (P ≥ 0.49) between SOLID and STRIP among clover species. Strip seeding appears to be a viable alternative to achieve acceptable clover populations.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Beck, P. A., M. S. Gadberry, D. Hubbell, and T. Hess. 2015. Setting stocking rate of steers grazing wheat pasture based on forage allowance. Prof. Anim. Sci. 31:434-442. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.15232/pas.2015-01410
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Richeson, J. T., P. Beck, D. Hubbell, S. Gadberry, B. Kegley, J. Powell, and F. Prouty. 2015. Effect of growth implant regimen on health, performance, and immunity of high risk, newly received stocker cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 93:4089-4097. doi:10.2527/jas2014-8835.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Richeson, J. T., P. A. Beck, K. Poe, M. S. Gadberry, T. W. Hess, and D. Hubbell. 2015. Effects of modified-live respiratory virus vaccine administration and timing in high risk beef stocker calves. Bov. Pract. 49:37-42.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Galyen, W., T. Hess, D. Hubbell, S. Gadberry, E. Kegley, M. Cravey, J. Powell, E. Backes, L. Meyers, and P. Beck. 2015. Effects of bambermycin or monensin on health and performance of receiving cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 93 (E-Suppl. 2):23
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Galyen, W., B. Kegley, J. Powell, P. Beck, D. Hubbell, T. Hess, T. Butler, and J. Rogers. 2015. Effect of grazing management on performance of steers grazing mixed alfalfa/bermudagrass pastures. J. Anim. Sci. 93 (Suppl. 1):26 (Abstr.)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Beck, P., B. Stewart, C. Shelton, A. McWilliams, M. Sims, and J. Jennings. 2015. Seeding method and clover species for grazing calves in Southern Arkansas. J. Anim. Sci. 93(Suppl. 1):52 (Abstr.)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Stewart, B., P. Beck, J. Tucker, T. Hess, and D. Hubbell. 2015. Efficacy of supplying lasalocid sodium via a self-fed trace mineralized salt block supplement to growing calves grazing warm-season grass. J. Anim. Sci. 93 (E-Suppl. 2):445-446.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Beck, P., J. Tucker, W. Galyen, S. Gadberry, D. Hubbell, T. Hess, D. Galloway, M. Sims, B. Kegley, and M. Cravey. 2015. Effect of supplementing heifers on pasture with bambermycin or monensin on growth and development. J. Anim. Sci. 93 (E-Suppl. 2):837.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Galyen, W.L., T. Hess, D.S. Hubble III, M.S. Gadberry, E.B. Kegley, M. Cravey, J. G. Powell, E.A. Backes, L.R. Meyer, and P.A. Beck. 2015. Effects of Bambermycin or Monensin on health and performance of receiving cattle. In F. T. McCollum (ed) Proc. Plains Nutrition Council Spring Conference. pp. 111. San Antonio, TX. April 16-17, 2015.


Progress 11/05/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Stocker cattle and backgrounding cattle producers in the Southeastern United States, fellow scientists working with growing cattle in the SE United States and Southern Plains, and Cooperative Extension personnel in Arkansas and SE US. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? "Technology in Beef Production" Livestock and Forestry Research Station Field Day, Batesville, AR, April 15, 2014. "Management of Cool-Season Annuals for Weaned Calves" Washington County Grazing School, Fayetteville, AR, August 6, 2014. "Low Input Production Practices" Howard County Super Thursday Beef Clinic, July 31, 2014. "Forage Finishing Beef" Howard County Super Thursday Beef Clinic, July 31, 2014. "Growth Promoting Technology for Beef Production" Searcy County Cattlemen's Assoc. June 17, 2014. "Adding Value to Calves" Cleveland County Cattlemen's Assoc. May 22, 2014. "Growth Promoting Technologies for Beef Production" Little River County Cattlemen's Assoc. April 28, 2014. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Research described herein will be replicated to further illucidate impacts of these management factors on animal productivity and forage persistence and productivity. Results of above described research will be presented at the Four States Cattle Conference (a multistate Cooperative Extention effort involving Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana), and will be presented to county Extension agents in Arkansas in various In-Service trainings. Research results will be presented at the American Society of Animal Science Southern Section meeting and the Joint Annual Meeting of ADSA and ASAS.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Project 1a. This research was designed to quantify the relationship between stocking rate (SR) and performance of growing steers of varying BW on wheat pasture (n = 10, 1.6 ha pastures). In the fall of 2012, 16 heavy BW steers (BW = 282 ± 15.8 kg)were stocked at 2.5 steers/ha on 4 wheat fields (HVY), 12 light BW steers (BW = 189 ± 14.8 kg) were stocked at 2.5 steers/ha on 3 wheat fields (LT), or 20 light BW steers (BW = 191 ± 13.8 kg) were stocked to wheat fields based on equal forage allowance (FA; kg forage DM/kg steer BW) to HVY steers (LTfa) 3 wheat fields. Forage allowance at turnout on wheat pasture was 3.3 ± 0.6, 5.3 ± 0.3, and 3.2 ± 0.3 kg forage DM/kg steer BW for HVY, LT, and LTfa, respectively. On February 15, HVY steers were removed from pasture and were replaced with 36 steers (BW = 282 ± 18.4 kg) at a stocking rate of 5.6 steers/ha on March 1 for spring grazeout. Steers in LT and LTfa treatments remained on pasture through the spring grazeout, and stocking rates were increased to 5.6 steers/ha by adding steers (BW = 290 ± 22.7) on March 1. Animal performance data were analyzed using the mixed-model procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) for which pasture within treatment was the random effect. Project 1b. Eighteen 1.6-ha warm-season grass pastures at the Southwest Research and Extension Center Stocker Unit were interseeded to white (WHT, Trifolium repens), red (RED, Trifolium pratense), or subterranean (SUB, Trifolium subterraneum) in October, 2013 either across the entire pasture (SOLID) at the recommended rate (2.2, 8.9, and 22, kg/ha, respectively) or in strips (STRIP) at twice the recommended rate in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Pastures were stocked with growing heifers (n = 5/pasture, BW = 298 ± 6.0 kg) from 21 May to 10 September. Each pasture was split into two 0.8 ha paddocks, heifers grazed paddocks on alternating weeks. Stand counts, forage mass, and diet samples were collected monthly across each pasture and heifers were weighed full at the initiation and termination of grazing. Forage data were analyzed as a repeated measures design, and animal performance was analyzed by ANOVA using PROC MIXED in SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). Project 1c. It is commonly recommended to use rotational grazing to improve persistence of legumes interseeded into bermudagrass, but impacts on animal performance are poorly understood. Steers (n = 160, BW = 251 ± 2.4 kg) grazed mixed alfalfa/bermudagrass pastures (n = 10; 1.6-ha) with either continuous grazing (CONT) or rotational grazing (ROT) management from 15 May to 7 August 2014 (84-d). Initial stocking rate was set at 10 calves/ha and rotational grazing pastures were divided into 8 paddocks with 3 d grazing (21-d rest between grazing events). Initial, final, and interim (28-d) BW were collected following a 16-h removal from feed and water. When forage allowance became limiting (forage allowance < 1 kg forage DM/kg steer BW) in CONT on 10 July, 2 randomly selected steers were removed from all pastures to maintain equal stocking rates in CONT and ROT. Data were analyzed as a completely random design with the mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) using pasture within treatment in the random statement. Project 2. With the increased availability of corn based byproduct feed ingredients, the potential exists for unbalanced duodenal amino acid flows in growing cattle diets, thus this research was designed to determine the effect of adding a bypass protein supplement on gains and efficiency of growing steers ad libitum fed mixed diets of either grain based (GRAIN; 42% bermudagrass hay, 26% corn, 20% corn dried distiller's grains [DDGS], and 2% mineral premix, as fed basis) or roughage based (ROUGHAGE; 58% bermudagrass hay, 20% DDGS, 6.5% soybean hulls, and 2.5% mineral premix, as fed basis); or similar diets which contained 5% (as fed basis) a commercial supplement supplying balance profile of rumen bypass amino acids (AA, AminoGain, ADM Alliance Nutrition, Quincy, IL) to partially offset the mineral premix and DDGS (GRAIN+AA and ROUGHAGE+AA) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. All diets contained 10% water for dust control and monensin at 25 g/ton. Weaned and preconditioned beef steers (n = 72, BW = 263 ± 4.6 kg) were implanted with 40 mg trenbolone acetate and 8 mg estradiol (Component TE-G with Tylan, Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN) and randomly assigned to 12 pens, and then pens randomly assigned to the four dietary treatments. Each fortnight, steers were weighed before the morning feeding and orts were collected. Animal performance data were analyzed using the mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc. Cary, NC) with pen as the experimental unit and pen within treatment as the random statement. Feed intake and efficiency was analyzed by ANOVA using the general linear models procedure of SAS.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Beck, P., D. Hubbell, T. Hess, and J. Jennings. 2014. Interseeding bermudagrass pastures with alfalfa or clovers for growing calves. J. Anim. Sci. 92 (E-Suppl.1):157 (Abstr.)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hughes, H. D., P. A. Beck, D. S. Hubbell, M. S. Gadberry, E. B. Kegley, J. G. Powell, F. L. Prouty, and J. T. Richeson. 2014. Effect of growth hormone implantation timing on health, performance, and immunity of beef stocker cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 92 (E-Suppl.1):36 (Abstr.)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Beck, P., T. Hess, and D. Hubbell. 2014. Setting stocking rate of wheat pasture based on forage allowance. J. Anim. Sci. 92 (E-Suppl.1): 24-25 (Abstr.).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Beck, P., B. Stewart, H. Gray, S. Gadberry, J. Tucker, D. Hubbell, J. Butterbaugh, T. Hess, K. Coffey, and B. Rudolph. 2014. Effect of daily or alternate day distillers grains supplementation with or without monensin on performance of grazing calves. Prof. Anim. Sci. 30:515-526.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Williamson, J. A., R. R. Reuter, J. A. Apple, C. B. Stewart, H. C. Gray, and P. A. Beck. 2014. Growth promoting implants and nutrient restriction prior to feeding: effect on finishing performance, carcass composition, carcass quality, and consumer acceptability of beef. Prof. Anim. Sci. 30:485-496
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Beck, P. A., T. Hess, D. Hubbell, D. Hufstedler, B. Fieser, and J. Caldwell. 2014. Additive effects of growth promoting technologies on performance of grazing steers and economics of the wheat pasture enterprise. J. Anim. Sci. 92:1213-1227