Forage systems for beef production from conception to slaughter: I. Cow-calf production.

摘要: Six year-round, all-forage, three- paddock systems for beef cow-calf production were used to produce five calf crops during a 6-yr period. Forages grazed by cows spring, summer, and early fall consisted of one 11 tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.1-ladino clover (Tri,foliurn repens L.) or 21 Kentucky blue- grass (Poa pratensis LJwhite (Trifolium L.1. Each these forage mixtures was combined in factorial arrangement with two paddok each replicate con- tained 5.8 ha eight Angus cow- pairs total 480 pairs. Fescue e 5% infected Acrernoniurn coenophia- lum. Pregnancy rate 94%. Cows grazing fescue-ladino maintained greater CP < .051 BW than those bluegrass-white clover, their calves tended (P .091 have slightly weaning weights (250 vs 243 kg, respective- ly). Stockpiled fescue-red provided more days required less .05) hay fed stockpiled orchardgrass plus either red alfalfa. Digestibilities DM, CP, ADF, determined steers, the orchardgrass-legume hays hay. AlI produced satisfactory cattle performance, but minimum inputs harvested feed excellent stands 6 yr.