Animal Science, Department of
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Date of this Version
2023
Citation
2023 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report
UNL Beef, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Abstract
Limited pasture availability and increased pasture rental rates have generated a need to evaluate alternative cow-calf production systems. The current study compared cow and calf performance in two August-calving cow systems that combined corn residue grazing with 1) perennial forage grazing and hay or 2) summer drylot feeding and fall cover crop grazing. Differences in pregnancy rates between systems within year were not observed; however, the effect of production system on cow body condition and calf body weight at different time points varied across years. Overall, cow and calf performance were not negatively impacted in the drylot/cropland system, suggesting that it is a potential alternative to a perennial forage-based system.
Included in
Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons, Meat Science Commons, Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health Commons