Performance of Cows and Their Calves Creep‐Grazed on Rhizoma Perennial Peanut

Abstract

Where tropical grasses such as bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) make up the base forage, creep‐grazing legumes should be beneficial to calf performance. Treatments of creep with rhizoma perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata Benth.) and no creep were set‐stocked (n = 24, 20, and 32 cow/calf pairs per treatment/replicate combination in 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively) for an 84‐d grazing period (June–September). Base pasture forage dry matter (DM) availability was similar all 3 yr (avg. 2.81, 2.63, and 3.13 Mg ha−1 for 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively) and for both treatments (2.84 and 2.87 Mg ha−1 for creep and no creep, respectively). Forage DM availability in the creep areas averaged approximately 3.0 Mg ha−1 and was composed of about 60% grass and 30% rhizoma perennial peanut (RPP). Nutritive value of RPP was usually 60 mg kg−1 higher for crude protein (CP) and 200 mg kg−1 higher for in vitro organic matter disappearance (IVOMD) compared with the associated grass (97.7 mg kg−1 CP and 415.8 mg kg−1 IVOMD). Utilization of creep area varied with year and breed of calf (Angus < 10% vs. Romosinuano > 50%). As a consequence, performance of Angus calves was not affected, but average daily gain (ADG) for Romosinuano calves with access to creep area was higher (+0.14 kg d−1) than that for calves with no creep. Also, body condition score (BCS) that was higher in August and September for creeped‐Romosinuano calves. Creep grazing the calves had no effect on cow performance (weight, ADG, or BCS).