Cool-season annual pastures with clovers to supplement wintering beef cows nursing calves

Abstract

In December of 3 years, 87 beef cows with nursing calves (594 ± 9.8 kg; calving season, September to November) at side were stratified by body condition score, body weight, cow age, and calf gender and divided randomly into 6 groups assigned to 1 of 6 cool-season annual pastures (0.45 ha/cow) that had been interseeded into a dormant common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.)/bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) sod. Pastures contained 1 of the following 3 seeding mixtures (2 pastures/mixture): 1) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam., WRG), 2) wheat and ryegrass plus red clover (Trifolium pretense L., WRR), or 3) wheat and ryegrass plus white (Trifolium repens L.) and crimson clovers (Trifolium incarnatum L., WRW). All groups had ad libitum access to grass hay (12% crude protein; 58% total digestible nutrients). The second week in December, cow estrous cycles were synchronized and artificially inseminated. In late December, a bull was placed with each group for 60-d. Data were analyzed with an analysis of variance using a mixed model containing treatment as the fixed effect and year as the random effect. Body weight and condition scores did not differ (P ≥ 0.27) among cows between February and June. Calf birth weights or average daily gain did not differ (P ≥ 0.17) among treatments; however, calves grazing pastures with clovers did tend (P = 0.06) to weigh more than calves grazing grass only. Weaning weight per cow exposed to a bull was greater (P = 0.02) for WRR and WRW than WRG. Cows grazing winter-annual pastures containing clovers tended to wean more calf body weight per cow exposed to a bull than cows grazing the grass only pastures.

Grazing Evaluation of Annual and Perennial Cool‐Season Forage Systems for Stocker Production in the Lower Transition Zone

“…High‐quality, cool‐season forage systems have forage production characteristics that complement annual production in warm‐season grass‐based forage systems common to the southeastern stocker industry (Beck et al, 2008; Gunter et al, 2012). In this region, cold weather limits winter forage production, so cattle are often fed hay or other stored feeds for at least 8 weeks during the winter (Harris et al, 1972).…”

Residual Herbicide Effect on Interseeded Annual Clover in Southern Forage Systems

“…Crimson clover has been utilized in the United States for the last 150 yr and is the most important annual clover to US agriculture (Smith 2010). Overseeded annual forage systems represent an important source of high-quality grazing for supporting livestock production in the winter and early-spring months (Beck et al 2007; Gunter et al 2012; Hoveland et al 1978); however, the use of mixed grass–legume pastures limits the range of available herbicides for controlling problematic weeds. Of the technologies available, it is important to assess potential implications of herbicide activity on aboveground pasture productivity and species composition.…”

Long‐Term Forage and Cow–Calf Relationships for Bermudagrass Overseeded with Arrowleaf Clover or Annual Ryegrass Managed at Different Stocking Rates

“…Some previously conducted cow-calf grazing experiments using warmseason perennial grass pastures overseeded with annual ryegrass and/or clovers in the southern United States targeted animal performance under low to moderate stocking rates (Hoveland et al, 1978;Morrison et al, 1994;Evers, 2009;Wyatt et al, 2012Wyatt et al, , 2013. Gunter et al (2012) showed that the addition of Trifolium spp. to winter annual forage mixtures on warm-season perennial grasses provides a supplement to lactating cows, improves weaning weight, and reduces the fertilizer N requirements for pasture production.…”