The evaluation of warm-season annual grasses as alternative sources of forage crops for beef cattle diets under northwestern Alberta conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACT In recent years, there has been considerable interest in growing warm-season crops in monocultures and in mixtures for beef cattle production. The objective of this investigation was to measure the forage yield and nutritive value for the beef diet of 10 C4 and two C3 forage-type cereal crops. Forage yield was greater (P < 0.05) for C3 than C4 crops. The C4 crops generally had greater forage crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrient (TDN) values comparable to C3 crops. Also, the C4 crops had higher Ca, P, K, Mg, Fe, and Zn than C3 crops. Both C3 and C4 crops were able to meet the requirements of CP, TDN, and minerals for a dry gestating beef cattle. Considering ease of establishment and forage yield, only four of the 10 C4 crops [two crown millet (Panicum miliaceum) varieties (red and white proso millets) and two sorghum Sudangrass (S. bicolor × S. Sudanese) varieties (BMR and Grazex III)] would be a fit for swath grazing or pasture.