Cow/Calf Production and Economic Returns from Yearlong Continuous, Deferred Rotation and Rotational Grazing Treatments

Abstract

Livestock production from grazing is an integrated measure of the quantity and quality of forage produced and consumed. Research was conducted over 6-yr to assess the effects of four yearlong grazing treatments on cow-calf production (382 cows Bos taurus) and economic returns under extensive rangeland conditions (4637 acres). Treatments were heavy (HC) and moderate (MC) stocked continuous (1-pasture; 1-herd), a moderate stocked 4-pasture, 3-herd deferred rotation (DR); and a very heavily stocked 16-pasture, 1-herd rotation (RG). Averaged across years, stocking rates were approximately 12, 16, 15, and 10 acres/cow-year for the HC, MC, DR, and RG treatments, respectively. From 1982 through 1987, conception rates averaged 89, 93, 95, and 89%; weaned calf crops averaged 80, 83,86, and 80%; weaning weights averaged 579, 574, 593, and 550 lb; production/cow averaged 466, 467, 508, and 439 lb; production per acre averaged 40, 31,35, and 45 lb; and residual returns to land, management and profit averaged $60.81, $69.57, $93.12, and $62.72/cow and $5.35, $4.46, $6.47, and $6.63/acre for the HC, MC, CR, and RG treatments, respectively. Results show that stocking rate was the major factor affecting differences among grazing treatments in cow/calf production and economic returns and that, as stocking rate was increased, production stability decreased.