Forage systems for beef production from conception to slaughter: I. Cow-calf production

Allen, V. G.; Fontenot, J. P.; Notter, D. R.; Hammes, R. C.

doi:10.2527/1992.702576x

Cited by 27 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…On irrigated alfalfa and tall wheatgrass pastures [A gropyron elongatum (Host) Beauv., = Elytrigia elongata (Host) Nevski], Lauriault et al (2005) found no differences in stocker cattle performance grazing monoculture alfalfa and the mixture of alfalfa with tall wheatgrass. Allen et al (1992) evaluated performance of cow–calf groups grazing mixtures of tall fescue–red clover, orchardgrass–red clover and orchardgrass–alfalfa in Virginia. They also found that pasture species mix had relatively minor effects on overall performance of cows and calves.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pasture and Cattle Responses in Rotationally Stocked Grazing Systems Sown with Differing Levels of Species Richness

Tracy

Faulkner

2006

Crop Science

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Increasing species richness of temperate pastures beyond one or two forage species could improve grazing system productivity. An experiment in western Illinois, USA, was initiated in August 2001 to test this idea. The main study objective was to determine how pastures sown with increasing levels of species richness would affect herbage yield and cow-calf performance. Three seed mixtures that contained three, five, or eight forage species were sown into 3-to 6-ha pastures. Mixtures were replicated three times and rotationally stocked with beef cow-calf groups. Herbage mass and accumulation were estimated by a rising plate meter method and weight gain evaluated cow-calf performance. We also evaluated forage nutritive value indices and changes in forage species composition. After pasture establishment in 2001, herbage mass was marginally higher (P 5 0.15) in eight-species mixtures (98 g m 22 ) compared with three-species mixes (43 g m 22 ). Once grazing started, pasture mix had no effect on herbage responses or stocking rate (P . 0.05). Cow-calf performance was also unaffected by pasture mix, although average daily gain (ADG) was higher in 2003 (P , 0.05). Cow and calf ADG averaged 0.33 and 1.17 kg d 21 , respectively, in 2003 compared with 0.05 and 1.01 kg d 21 in other years. Overall, species richness in pastures had minimal effects on forage yield and cattle performance. Grazing management (e.g., stocking rate) and climatic conditions more strongly influence grazing system productivity.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pasture and Cattle Responses in Rotationally Stocked Grazing Systems Sown with Differing Levels of Species Richness

Tracy

Faulkner

2006

Crop Science

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“…Fertilization rates were based on the estimated crop removal of 27.4 kg P ha j1 , assuming a forage yield of 7.84 t ha j1 and forage consisting of 3.49 mg g j1 P. The crop yield was based on yields measured for the area (Allen et al, 1992;Smith et al, 2005) and adjusted to site-specific limitations (i.e., northwest slope of site, shallow topsoil). As a result, 43.0 m 3 ha j1 dairy slurry, 24.7 m 3 ha j1 swine slurry, 14.1 t ha j1 beef manure, 2.3 t ha j1 poultry litter, and 62.7 kg ha j1 TSP were applied.…”

Section: Field Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Phosphorus Runoff Potential of Varying Sources of Manure Applied to Fescue Pastures in Virginia

Hollmann¹,

Knowlton²,

Brosius

et al. 2008

Soil Science

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The P Index for Virginia uses coefficients describing the risk of P runoff from pastures for different nutrient sources, but these coefficients have not been verified on Virginian soils. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the relative risk of P losses from pasture after P application of manures or commercial fertilizer. Four sources of manure (dairy slurry, swine slurry, beef solids, and poultry litter) and triple superphosphate were spring applied to pasture plots at an estimated crop P removal of 27.4 kg ha j1 and compared with a no-P control treatment. Three pairs of rainfall simulations (65-70 mm h j1 ) were conducted ( June, August, and October). Each month, the second rainfall simulation, conducted 24 h after the first, was to evaluate effects on saturated soils. The control plots had lower total P (TP; 0.125 mg L j1 ) and lower dissolved reactive P (DRP; 0.067 mg L j1 ) concentrations than all other treatments (0.189-0.241 mg TP L j1 and 0.127-0.174 mg DRP L j1 ) in runoff during the first rain simulation 40 days after amendment. The control generated the lowest (0.117 mg L j1 ) and triple superphosphate the greatest (0.241 mg L j1 ) TP concentrations during the second simulation 24 h later (saturated ground). Slurry manures led to greater TP runoff concentrations than solid manures during the second simulation in both June and August. Furthermore, TP and DRP concentrations dropped throughout the 30-min runoff period for all P treatments. Cropland-derived coefficients in the Virginia P Index are generally appropriate for pasture in soils typical of the Shenandoah Valley, but reduction in their magnitude and a differentiation between liquid and solid manures may be warranted. In more complex process-based models, inclusion of season and rainfall duration may be appropriate, to reflect the greater runoff risk during longer rain events and from wet fields early after manure application. (Soil Science 2008;173:721-735)

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“…In a calf-to-beef system that couples backgrounding and finishing, more CH 4 is emitted from the forage-fed backgrounded phase than from the grain-based finishing phase and the cow herd is responsible for almost 70% of GHG emissions. The high proportion of CH 4 associated with the cow herd is because of the cow herd consuming a higher proportion of the feed in a calf-to-beef system, inherently low biological efficiency of the beef cow and the very high proportion of the cow herd's diet as conserved forage, pasture, range and crop residues rather than concentrates (Allen et al ., 1992; Verge et al ., 2008; Capper, 2011). The impact of roughage v .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing GHG emissions through genetic improvement for feed efficiency: effects on economically important traits and enteric methane production

Basarab

Beauchemin

Baron

et al. 2013

Animal

166

103

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Genetic selection for residual feed intake (RFI) is an indirect approach for reducing enteric methane (CH4) emissions in beef and dairy cattle. RFI is moderately heritable (0.26 to 0.43), moderately repeatable across diets (0.33 to 0.67) and independent of body size and production, and when adjusted for off-test ultrasound backfat thickness (RFIfat) is also independent of body fatness in growing animals. It is highly dependent on accurate measurement of individual animal feed intake. Within-animal repeatability of feed intake is moderate (0.29 to 0.49) with distinctive diurnal patterns associated with cattle type, diet and genotype, necessitating the recording of feed intake for at least 35 days. In addition, direct measurement of enteric CH4 production will likely be more variable and expensive than measuring feed intake and if conducted should be expressed as CH4 production (g/animal per day) adjusted for body size, growth, body composition and dry matter intake (DMI) or as residual CH4 production. A further disadvantage of a direct CH4 phenotype is that the relationships of enteric CH4 production on other economically important traits are largely unknown. Selection for low RFIfat (efficient, −RFIfat) will result in cattle that consume less dry matter (DMI) and have an improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared with high RFIfat cattle (inefficient; +RFIfat). Few antagonistic effects have been reported for the relationships of RFIfat on carcass and meat quality, fertility, cow lifetime productivity and adaptability to stress or extensive grazing conditions. Low RFIfat cattle also produce 15% to 25% less enteric CH4 than +RFIfat cattle, since DMI is positively related to enteric methane (CH4) production. In addition, lower DMI and feeding duration and frequency, and a different rumen bacterial profile that improves rumen fermentation in −RFIfat cattle may favor a 1% to 2% improvement in dry matter and CP digestibility compared with +RFIfat cattle. Rate of genetic change using this approach is expected to improve feed efficiency and reduce enteric CH4 emissions from cattle by 0.75% to 1.0% per year at equal levels of body size, growth and body fatness compared with cattle not selected for RFIfat.

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Forage systems for beef production from conception to slaughter: I. Cow-calf production

Cited by 27 publications

References 8 publications

Pasture and Cattle Responses in Rotationally Stocked Grazing Systems Sown with Differing Levels of Species Richness

Pasture and Cattle Responses in Rotationally Stocked Grazing Systems Sown with Differing Levels of Species Richness

Phosphorus Runoff Potential of Varying Sources of Manure Applied to Fescue Pastures in Virginia

Reducing GHG emissions through genetic improvement for feed efficiency: effects on economically important traits and enteric methane production

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