Gains of Steers and Calves Grazing Crested Wheatgrass

Abstract

Efficient utilization of pasture requires proper class of livestock, stocking rate, and season of use. Crested wheatgrass was grazed with steers in spring for 3 years at two stocking rates and with calves in fall for 2 years at 2 stocking rates to evaluate alternate uses. Differences in forage production and lengths of grazing season over years produced grazing pressures of 47-79 steer days or 53-73 calf days per metric tonne of forage produced. Steer gains of 0.85-1.20 kg/day were unaffected by grazing pressure, but lighter steers gained faster. Implantation of 36 mg of Ralgro per steer increased daily gains by 13%. Calf gains were 0.15-0.24 kg/day, and decreased with increasing grazing pressure according to the function ADG=0.45-0.0041 (calf days/tonne forage); r2=0.95. Such grazing pressure-gain response functions facilitate comparisons between seasons of use and class of livestock, as well as those between stocking rates, and help range managers make management decisions. Maximum steer gains in spring per hectare and tonne of forage were over 3 and 6 times, respectively, the gains of calves in fall.