Research > Pasture Utilization and Forage Quality

Summary

The Pasture Utilization and Forage Quality Program began at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton, Texas in 1967. The program’s primary focus is evaluating new and existing forage cultivars and grazing systems for use in the eastern half of Texas and for implementation in the southeastern U.S. Specifically, the program combines assessments of forage nutritive value, production and sustainability; environmentally-compatible nutrient cycling under a variety of stocking and fertility regimens; and life-time performance attributes of beef cattle using component-based research with cows and calves, stockers and feeders.

Forage-Animal Interface Using Cows and Calves

Brown CowAdaptive cow breed types such as F-1 Brahman x English breeds and terminal sires can result in calf gains in excess of 1000 lbs per acre. Cows with fall-born calves stocked on clover or ryegrass can exceed 850 lbs at weaning and have direct harvest potential. Heavy-weight calves at weaning require reduced feedlot residence and demand premium prices. Efficiency of animal production using forage mass and nutritive value parameters has major implications on beef cattle industry sustainability. Fall- and winter-calving cow herds comprise the birth-to-harvest dataset for BeefSys which can enhance biological and economic strategies for beef production.

Nutrient Cycling Under Grazing Conditions

Long-term, from 1985 to date, stocking of bermudagrass pastures overseeded with ryegrass plus nitrogen or clover without nitrogen fertilizer has been evaluated. Stocking rate has not been a contributing factor to soil nitrate-nitrogen levels. Soil analysis indicated no potential contamination due to stocking rate or phosphorus fertilization. The bermudagrass stand was sustainable at low stocking rates without nitrogen fertilization. At high stocking rates and without nitrogen, a shift in plant species composition occurs that may not meet stakeholder objectives.

Tifton 85 Bermudagrass for Stockers

Cows in a fieldStocker average daily gain on Tifton 85 increased 25 to 50% compared to Costal bermudagrass. Stocking rates of four 600-lb steers per acre allows for gain of 750-1000 lbs per acre. These gains per animal and per acre offer renewed opportunities for continued ownership or commercial stocker-backgrounding operations. Stocker gains during the summer allow for reduced feedlot residence and associated environmental implications. Tifton 85 with supplementation provides an opportunity to produce heavy-weight cattle for direct harvest and niche beef markets.

Rye and Ryegrass for Stocker Cattle

Low to moderate stocking rates allow for average daily gains of nearly 3 lbs per day. Stocking rates and stocking strategies can produce gains of 650 to 900 lbs per acre. Pasture with or without supplementation can result in body weights of more than 1000 lbs with reduced feedlot residence. Direct harvest of cattle off pasture has potential to produce acceptable beef for niche markets.

Dr. Francis M. (Monte) Rouquette, Jr., PAS

Dr. Francis M. Rouquette

Team Members

  • Kyle Turner, Research Associate
  • Sarah Reeder, Visiting Scholar