Eastern Gamagrass Management for Pasture in the Mid‐Atlantic Region: I. Animal Performance and Pasture Productivity

Abstract

Eastern gamagrass [Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.] (EG) is a native, warm‐season perennial grass with potential as pasture for the eastern United States, but its value has not been well studied. The objective of this 4‐yr experiment was to estimate forage mass (FM) for EG that maximizes steer (Bos taurus) performance and pasture productivity. Five treatments (three continuously and two rotationally stocked) were compared with a continuously stocked ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] control. The three continuously stocked treatments had mean FM (10‐cm stubble) levels of 559 kg ha−1 (Short), 1103 kg ha−1 (Medium), and 1932 kg ha−1 (Tall). Rotational treatments consisted of two subdivisions with steers moved on a 10 to 14 d interval (FM = 1348 kg ha−1) and10 subdivisions with steers moved every 3 to 4 d with a 27 to 36 d regrowth interval (FM = 2061 kg ha−1). The average daily gain (ADG) from the Medium continuously stocked treatment was greatest at 0.90 kg (P = 0.02) and produced similar annual gain per hectare (735 vs. 749 kg ha−1; P = 0.08) as Short. Rotational pastures had greater FM than continuously stocked (1705 vs. 1198 kg ha−1; P = 0.03), but the least ADG (0.67 vs. 0.79 kg; P = < 0.01). Bermudagrass produced less ADG than EG (0.57 vs. 0.79 kg; P < 0.01), but gain per hectare was similar (662 kg ha−1) and stocking rate was greater (10.0 vs. 6.7 head ha−1; P < 0.01). Eastern gamagrass has potential as a special purpose pasture for the region when greater ADG is the goal.