147 Renovating toxic-infected tall fescue pastures for profitability, animal performance, and soil health

Abstract

Abstract Renovating toxic-infected tall fescue (TF) pastures to non-toxic infected tall fescue (NE) for profitability, animal and agronomic performance without compromising soil health is needed to transition to NE in the southeast U.S. Three renovation strategies were evaluated for impact on soil health, profitability, and animal and agronomic performance in a replicated field trial located in Bahama, NC. Strategies included: 1) control (C), 2) renovation to NE after one season of a single specie cover crop (1-SM), 3) renovation to NE after three seasons of a single specie cover crop (3-SM), and 4) renovation to NE after three seasons of a multi-specie cover crop (3-CM). Soil samples were taken prior to renovation to establish baseline soil health measurements for each strategy. Data were analyzed using proc GLM of SAS v9.4. Thirty-two Angus and Angus cross steers (initial BW 425 ± 27) were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to one of four treatments during the first season of renovation. Average daily gain for cattle grazing the first season of cover crops was greatest (P < 0.001) with 3-CM (0.8 kg/d), 3-SM (0.8 kg/d), in comparison to C and 1-SM (-0.1 kg/d). Gain per hectare differed among treatments (P < 0.001) with 3-SM and 3-CM being greater than C and 1-SM (179, 154, -24, -43 kg/ha, respectively). Within the two-month grazing period, yield different during the month of August (P < 0.001), with 3-SM being the highest (4511 kg/ha) in comparison to 3-CM (3275 kg/ha), 1-SM (2922 kg/ha), and C (2644 kg/ha), while yield was highest (P < 0.001) for 3-CM in September (2931 kg/ha) in comparison to all other treatments. Data suggests agronomic and animal performance for 3-CM and 3-SM were improved compared to C and could partially alleviate initial renovation costs.