Production of Cow-Calf Herds: Effect of Burning Native Range and Supplemental Feeding

Abstract

Two grazing trials of 4 and 6 years' duration were conducted to determine the effect of burning unimproved range and limited supplemental feed during the fall and winter on productivity of cow-calf herds. In a 4-year trial, burning one-fourth of the range in November and an additional fourth in January increased weaned calf production from 56% to 75% and calf gain per cow from 84 kg to 106 kg over cows on unburned range. Burning one-half the range plus supplemental feeding of either cane molasses, fresh sugarcane, or cottonseed pellets resulted in a weaned calf crop of 67%, 72%, and 77%, respectively, and yearly calf production of 102 kg, 111 kg, and 117 kg/cow. In another trial of 6 years' duration, one-half of each 64.8 ha experimental range was burned each fall and winter. Supplemental feeds given the five lots were: none, oranges, grapefruit, grapefruit plus cottonseed pellets, and citrus pellets. The average weaned calf crop for the five lots was 61% (unsupplemented), 62%, 72%, 69%, and 68%. The yearly calf production/cow was 107 kg, 111 kg, 128 kg, 122 kg, and 122 kg, respectively. Supplemental feeding increased calf production, but differences were not statistically significant because of too few animals. Supplemental feeding did not offer a reasonable return over burning alone when cost of feed and labor involved were considered.