This study compared no-till techniques to reduced tillage and conventional tillage for the production of small-grain forages for grazing stacker calves. A mixture of wheat and rye was planted in the first 2 weeks of September at a rate of 60 Ib of each/acre in 15 four-acre pastures (n = 5 pastures/tillage system). Initial stocking consisted of 90 steers (six steers/ pasture, BW = 458 Ib), which grazed 88 d from October 28, 2003 to January 23, 2004. A second group of 135 steers (BW = 513 Ib) grazed 56d from March 2, 2004 to April 27, 2004. Fall ADG of stacker calves on no-till pastures was 0.37 Ib/d higher (P < 0.05) than on reduced tillage and conventional tillage pastures. ADG was not different among tillage treatments during spring grazing. Gains/acre were greater (P < 0.10) for no-till than reduced tillage and conventional tillage (490, 446, and 427 Ib, respectively). Forage production was higher (P < 0.05) in no-till pastures than it was in the conventional tillage pastures at the initiation of fall grazing (1,708 vs. 1,386 Ib), the end of fall grazing (1,140 vs. 923 Ib), and the initiation of spring grazing (1,064 vs. 778 Ib). No-till pastures also contained more (P < 0.05) forage at the initiation of spring grazing than reduced tillage pastures (1,064 vs. 830 Ib). It appears that establishing wheat and rye using no-till is superior in the fall grazing period. Based on these data, no-till methods of establishing small-grain forages to be utilized under stacker cattle are as successful as reduced tillage and conventional tillage practices.
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