Rotational vs. Continuous Stocking of Beef Cows and Calves on Mixed Endophyte-Free Tall Fescue-Bermudagrass Pasture

Abstract

Endophyte-free tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) furnishes better animal performance than endophyte- infected grass but is less persistent under grazing, especially in mixture with common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers]. Rotational (RS), compared with continuous (CS), stocking of endophyte-free tall fescue may improve persistence when grown with an aggressive warm season perennial grass. Four 40-acre bermudagrass pastures no-till seeded witb endophyte-free 'AU Triumph' tall fescue were used, allowing two replications to compare CS and RS methods. Rotationally stocked pastures were divided into 12 paddocks to allow 2 d of grazing and 22 d of rest. Twenty Hereford (Bos taurus)x Brangus (B. indicus x B. taurus) beef cows/40-acre pasture were maintained year around for 3 yr with additional cows added in spring and summer to maintain similar forage availability. Grazing method had no effect on cow weight change, pregnancy rate, or calf weaning weight. Pasture stocking rate and calf weaning weight per acre were 38 and 37% higher (P < 0.10), respectively, and winter hay consumption was 31% lower from rotationally stocked pastures because of better tall fescue persistence and forage availability. Crude protein (CP) and in vitro dry matter digestibility of available forage generally exceeded 8 and 50%, respectively, throughout the year. Rotational stocking appears to be useful in maintaining stands of endophyte-free tall fescue in bermudagrass pastures.