052 Effects of stocking rate, forage management, and grazing management on performance and economics of cow-calf production in Southwest Arkansas

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to determine the impacts of grazing management practices, including rotational grazing, stockpiling bermudagrass, and cool-season annual grasses on productivity and economics of spring calving cows (n = 72/yr, BW = 547 ± 33.2 kg) grazing bermudagrass pastures (n = 9, 4.7 ha). Treatments included: CG - low intensity management with continuous grazing at a moderate stocking rate (SR, 0.8 ha/cow); MR - intensive management at moderate SR (0.8 ha/cow); HR – intensive management with high stocking rates (0.4 ha/cow). Stockpiling in MR and HR was managed by fertilization of 0.2 ha/cow of bermudagrass in early August with 168 kg ammonium nitrate and deferring grazing until November. Wheat (112 kg/ha) and annual ryegrass (28 kg/ha) were established (0.2 ha/cow) in HR and MR by interseeding with a no-till drill in the fall. Cow and calf performance and economics data were analyzed by ANOVA using the mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) and pregnancy percentage was analyzed using GLIMMIX, pasture was the experimental unit and year the random block. Hay feeding days decreased (P < 0.01) from 106 ± 10.9 d for CG to 37 ± 10.9 d for HR which was further reduced (P = 0.01) to 15 ± 10.9 d for MR. Pregnancy percentage tended (P = 0.08) to be greater for HR (88 ± 3.5%) than MR (80 ± 4.6%) and CG (78 ± 4.7%) which did not differ (P = 0.74). Weaning weights in CG (238 ± 7.4 kg) tended (P = 0.09) to be greater than MR (228 ± 7.4 kg) and were greater (P < 0.01) than HR (220 ± 6.8 kg). However, total weaning weight per hectare was 89% greater (P < 0.01) for HR compared with CG and MR, which did not differ (P = 0.31). With rotational stocking there was the opportunity to harvest excess forage as hay in both MR and HR with a net value of $52.90/ha and $15.50/ha ± 6.99, respectively. Net returns per hectare did not differ (P = 0.39) between CG ($536 ± 65.82/ha) and MR (641.70 ± 65.82/ha), but were increased (P< 0.01) by 107% by HR ($1,221.29 ± 65.82/ha). Using rotational grazing, stockpiled bermudagrass, and complementary cool-season annual grasses can drastically reduce winter feed requirements and simultaneously increase carrying capacity and net return.