Performance of Market Cows Grazing Stockpiled Tall Fescue

摘要

Forty-two crossbred, non-pregnant cows (mean age = 4.3 +- 0.2 yr) were purchased from local auction barns to determine the effect of supplementation on performance, reproduction, and economics of market cows grazing stockpiled, endophyte-infected tallfescue. Cows were assigned to one of six paddocks (two paddocks/treatment) of stockpiled tall fescue for 160 d and supplemented with 2 lb/d of either soyhulls (SH), corn:soybean meal (CSB), or not supplemented (control). Cows were exposed to bulls and palpated for pregnancy. Cows were weighed and body condition scored (BCS) every month. Cows weighed 884 +- 16 Ib and had a BCS of 4.3 +- 0.2 at the initiation of the study. At the termination of the experiment, cows were sold at local auction. Supplementation tended (P = 0.11) to influence ADG of cows. Control cows gained 1.1 +-0.1 Ib/d while both SH and CSB cows gained 1.5 +-0.2 Ib/d. Change in body condition was greater (P < 0.05) for SH (1.9 +- 0.1 units increase) and CSB cows (1.5 +- 0.2 units increase) than control cows (1.0 +- 0.1 units increase). Reproductive performance was similar (P > 0.10) among supplementation treatments. When cows were sold, SH (1,110 +- 24 Ib) and CSB cows (1,108 +- 27 Ib) tended (P = 0.11) to be heavier than control cows(1,049 +- 21 Ib). Selling price and net return was similar (P > 0.10) among supplementation treatments. Supplementation of market cows grazing stockpiled tall fescue can increase performance but may not increase farm profitability.