Grazing Systems Utilizing Forage Combinations

Authors

Drew Shain, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Rick Stock, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Mark Klemesrud, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Date of this Version

January 1996

Comments

Published in 1996 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report; published by Agricultural Research Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Abstract

Grazing bromegrass throughout the summer provides weight gains of up to two pounds a day during early and late summer. However, during July and August bromegrass growth and quality is low and weight gains of cattle grazing bromegrass are reduced. Grazing combinations of warm and cool season forages allows for optimizing forage quality by rotating to warm season grasses during July and August. Another alternative may be to interseed red clover in bromegrass to optimize forage quality. Inter-seeding red clover would provide a higher quality forage when bromegrass growth and quality is low and, in addition, provide a source of nitrogen for the bromegrass. thus reducing nitrogen fertilization costs. Grazing these forages during the summer when quality is high, and following a winter and spring period of limited animal growth. should produce excellent animal weight gains while reducing cost of gain.

Objectives of the research were to evaluate the influence of different forage combinations on summer and fall grazing gains and to evaluate the effect of each of these combinations on the economics of the entire growing/finishing system.