Range and Livestock Research Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
Home
CurrentNutrientContent
Range Comparison Pictures
Animal
Range
Publications
Weed Calculator
 

Title: LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION ON COOL-SEASON FORAGES IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS

Authors
item Haferkamp, Marshall
item Heitschmidt, Rodney
item Grings, Elaine

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 1, 1999
Publication Date: February 1, 2001
Citation: HAFERKAMP, M.R., HEITSCHMIDT, R.K., GRINGS, E.E. LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION ON COOL-SEASON FORAGES IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS. AGRONOMY ABSTRACTS. p. 152. 2001.

Interpretive Summary: Seeding perennial cool-season grasses may be used to extend grazing seasons on rangeland. Few available cultivars have been evaluated for livestock performance. Twice replicated 3-ha pastures were seeded to 'Rosana' western wheatgrass (WG) (Pascopyrum smithii), 'Luna' pubescent WG (Elytrigia intermedia), and 'Hycrest' crested WG (Agropyron spp.) in fall 1994. Yearling steers (n=8) were grazed from 9 May to 12 June 1997 and 24 Apr. to 15 June 1998. Standing crop (SC) was 912, 448, and 608 kg/ha for Hycrest, Luna, and Rosana in May 1997 and 553, 330, and 469 kg/ha June. SC was 1,223, 680, and 750 kg/ha for Hycrest, Luna, and Rosana in Apr. 1998 and 1,643, 1,032, and 889 kg/ha in June. Gains were 1.2 kg/head/d in 1997 and did not differ among varieties. Gains were 1.4, 1.3, and 1.1 kg/head/d for Hycrest, Luna, and Rosana from 24 April to 20 May 1998, and gains on Hycrest were greater than on Rosana. Gains from 20 May to 15 June and 24 Apr. to 15 June did not differ among species. With these conditions and standing crops steer gains generally similar among species in the Northern Great Plains.

Technical Abstract: Seeding perennial cool-season grasses may be used to extend grazing seasons on rangeland. Few available cultivars have been evaluated for livestock performance. Twice replicated 3-ha pastures were seeded to 'Rosana' western wheatgrass (WG) (Pascopyrum smithii), 'Luna' pubescent WG (Elytrigia intermedia), and 'Hycrest' crested WG (Agropyron spp.) in fall 1994. Yearling steers (n=8) were grazed from 9 May to 12 June 1997 and 24 Apr. to 15 June 1998. Standing crop (SC) was 912, 448, and 608 kg/ha for Hycrest, Luna, and Rosana in May 1997 and 553, 330, and 469 kg/ha June. SC was 1,223, 680, and 750 kg/ha for Hycrest, Luna, and Rosana in Apr. 1998 and 1,643, 1,032, and 889 kg/ha in June. Gains were 1.2 kg/head/d in 1997 and did not differ among varieties. Gains were 1.4, 1.3, and 1.1 kg/head/d for Hycrest, Luna, and Rosana from 24 April to 20 May 1998, and gains on Hycrest were greater than on Rosana. Gains from 20 May to 15 June and 24 Apr. to 15 June did not differ among species. With these conditions and standing crops steer gains generally similar among species in the Northern Great Plains.

   
 
 
Last Modified: 05/20/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House