Supplementing Pine-Wiregrass Range With Improved Pasture In South Georgia

Abstract

Native forage on pine-wiregrass ranges is low in quality and poor in palatability most of the year. Management techniques to overcome these problems and to utilize this resource are needed. Acceptable beef production can be achieved with proper combination of burned-unburned range during spring and summer when accompanied by adequate feed during fall and winter. Combining use of improved pasture at the rate of 0.6 acre per cow with native range during the spring-summer grazing period or during only the summer boosts calf weights and maintains cow weights from year to year over weights of cattle grazing range-only during spring and summer./El forraje que proporcionan los pastizales nativos en bosques de pino es bajo de calidad y palatabilidad durante la mayor parte del año. La producción de bovino de carne es aceptable con una combinación de pastos quemados y sin quemar durante la primavera y el verano si los animales son suplementados durante el otoño y el invierno. Sin embargo, si se pastorea pastizal nativo y 0.6 acres por vaca diario dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum) y zacate Bahía (P. notatum) durante la época de pastoreo de primavera, verano o un verano solamente, si aumenta el peso de las vacas y el de los becerros al destete.