Production and Economics of Grazing Steers on Rye–Annual Ryegrass with Legumes or Fertilized with Nitrogen

Abstract

ABSTRACTCool‐season legumes have potential to replace N fertilizer in annual cool‐season grass pastures, thus improving returns to producers. The objective of this 3‐yr study was to compare the performance and economics of stocker cattle (Bos spp.) grazing rye (Secale cereale L.)–annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) under two N systems. Paddocks were planted in early September 2008 through 2010 and contained rye–annual ryegrass with 112 kg N ha−1 (fertilized so that a total of soil residual N plus fertilizer N would equal 112 kg N ha−1) (RR‐N) or contained a rye–annual ryegrass with annual legume mixture (arrowleaf clover [Trifolium vesiculosum Savi], field pea [Pisum sativum L.], and hairy vetch [Vicia villosa Roth]) (RR‐Leg). Steers (307 ± 55 kg initial body weight) were weighed every 28 d and stocking rates were adjusted based on forage mass with put‐and‐take steers. Forage mass, forage allowance, and stocker average daily gain (ADG) and total gain (TG) were measured every 28 d. Results show similar performance between RR‐N and RR‐Leg systems in grazing days (average 367 d ha−1), ADG (average 1.065 kg per head d−1), and TG (average 390 kg ha−1). While the 3‐yr average total cost associated with the RR‐N system (US$569.88 ha−1) was greater than the RR‐Leg system ($550.57 ha−1), there were no differences in gross revenue (average $815.91 ha−1) or expected net returns (average $255.68 ha−1) between systems. Annual legumes could be a viable replacement for commercial N fertilizer in rye–annual ryegrass pastures although adoption may be limited due to ease of N fertilizer application.