Performance of beef steers continuously stocked on different annual ryegrass cultivars
2021
Scaglia, G.
The objective was to study the performance of beef steers grazing different annual ryegrass cultivars.In 3 consecutive years, steers were continuously stocked on 4 different annual ryegrass cultivars. Cattle were weighed and ryegrass samples were obtained fortnightly. Forage mass, nutritive value, growth rate, animal performance, production per area, DMI, and forage allowance were determined. Mixed models were used to determine the effect of treatment, sampling day, and year on response variables.Differences in forage mass, total ADG, and production per hectare were observed for cultivar and year, and there was a cultivar × sampling day interaction for nutritive value, herbage accumulation, and forage allowance. Limited differences were detected between a late-maturing diploid and mid-to-late- and late-maturing tetraploid cultivars; however, differences were detected with an early-maturing cultivar. Earlyploid production characteristics (early maturity) explain differences in most production variables.Lack of differences between diploid and tetraploids made the decision of choosing a cultivar somewhat easier. Cost of seed might be the major determinant in this decision. There are, however, characteristics of Earlyploid worth considering such as its use when a different cultivar and grazing may have negative effects on early spring growth of summer perennials, staple forages on beef production systems in the Gulf Coast.
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