Agricultural Research and Education Center
% 3 Jay, Florida 32565-9524
JAY, AREC RESEARCH REPORT WF-86-3 July, 1986
GRAZING EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF CLOVER IN MIXTURES WITH RYE AND RYEGRASS
J. E. Bertrand and L. S. Dunavini/
SUMMARY
Growing, lightweight (average 449 lb. initially), crossbred (with 1/4 or more
Brahman breeding and the remaining portion comprised of predominately British
breeding), feeder steer calves rotationally grazed cool-season annual pasture
mixtures containing three different species of clover with rye and ryegrass. Calves
grazing mixtures containing 'Mount Barker' subterranean clover and 'Tibbee' crimson
clover gained faster (P <0.05) than calves grazing mixtures containing 'Bigbee'
berseem clover (2.34 and 2.30 versus 1.96. b./head/day, respectively). The gain
per acre was 424, 416, and 355 lb. with calves grazing mixtures containing
subterranean clover, crimson clover, and berseem clover, respectively. The cost
of gain was $32.25, $32.87, and $42.77 per hundredweight with calves grazing
mixtures containing subterranean clover, crimson clover, and berseem clover,
respectively. The daily gains obtained in this study were somewhat higher than gains
obtained in previous years with lightweight, feeder calves of the same type and size
grazing cool-season annual pastures. This was probably because of a large compensa-
tory gain and discrepancies in accounting for shrink.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to compare the animal performance and econ. ;:i-e
data with growing beef calves rotationally grazing cool-season annual pasture mix-
tures containing three different species of clover with rye and ryegrass.
PROCEDURE
Thirty-six lightweight (average 449 lb. initially), crossbred (with 1/4 or
more Brahman breeding and the remaining portion comprised of predominately British
breeding), feeder, steer calves were utilized in this study. All calves were treat-
ed with a 36 mg ear implant of zeranol and allotted at random from breed and weight
groups to six experimental groups of six steers each. The six experimental groups,
utilizing two groups (replicates) per treatment, were assigned to three treatments
on pasture: (1) 'Wrens abruzzi' rye, 'Gulf' ryegrass, and 'Tibbee' crimson clover
mixture, (2) 'Wrens abruzzi' rye, 'Gulf' ryegrass, and 'Mount Barker' subterranean
clover mixture, and (3) 'Wrens abruzzi' rye, 'Gulf' ryegrass, and 'Bigbee' berseem
clover mixture. Each group of six calves grazed three 1.25-acre pasture plots in a
rotational system.
The seedbed for all pasture plots was prepared by breaking and disking.' The
ryegrass and clover seed were broadcast on October 16-17, 1985 on the prepared
seedbed with a tractor-mounted Cyclone electric spreader at the rates of 20 and
15 lb. per acre, respectively. The rye was seeded in row widths of 7 inches with
a grain drill at the rate of 80 lb. per acre. All pasture plots were then culti-
packed to conserve moisture.
I/Animal Scientist and Associate Agronomist, respectively, Agricultural Research
and Education Center, Jay, Florida 32565-9524.
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A complete fertilizer (8-24-24) was applied to all pastures prior to planting
at the rate of 250 lb. per acre. Three applications of 100 lb. per acre each of
ammonium nitrate were made at intervals during the grazing season.
Grazing began on December 10, 1985 and was terminated when the forage was
essentially grazed down on April 29, 1986. All calves were removed from pasture
and fed supplemental feed, corn silage and hay, in drylot for an emergency period
of 27 days (January 10 to February 6). Continued cold temperatures over a period of
days killed some of the forage down to ground level; also, cloudy days associated
with the cold temperatures resulted in a slow forage regrowth. Individual animal
weights were taken after an overnight shrink (fast from feed and water) at the
beginning and end of the trial period as well as at the beginning and end of the
emergency feeding period in drylot. Each experimental group of steer calves was
rotated between the three pasture plots assigned to it as required for best
utilization of good quality forage.
A mineral mixture (consisting of two parts dicalcium/monocalcium phosphate
and one part trace-mineralized salt), plain salt, and clean drinking water were
available to the animals at all times.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Performance and economic data with growing beef calves grazing rye and rye-
grass mixtures with three different species of clover are listed in Table 1.
Calves grazing mixtures containing 'Mount Barker' subterranean clover and 'Tibbee'
crimson clover gained faster (P <0,051 than calves grazing mixtures containing
'Bighee' herseem clover (2.34 and 2,30 versus 1.96 lb./head/day, respectively).
The average daily gains per head were somewhat higher than gains obtained in
previous years with lightweight, feeder calves of the same type and size grazing
cool-season annual pastures. This was probably because of a large compensatory gain
that occurred during each of the two grazing periods and possibly some discrepancies
in accounting for shrink. The gain per acre was 424, 416, and 355 lb. with calves
grazing mixtures containing subterranean clover, crimson clover, and berseem clover,
respectively.
The cost of gainwas $32.25, $32.87, and $42.77 per hundredweight with calves
grazing mixtures containing subterranean clover, crimson clover, and berseem
clover, respectively (Table 1).
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TABLE 1. PERFORMANCE AND ECONOI
RYEGRASS MIXTURES WITH
IIC DATA WITH GROWING BEEF CALVES GRAZING.RYE AND
THREE DIFFERENT SPECIES OF CLOVER (1985-86)
Species of Clover
'Tibbee' 'Mount Barker' 'Bigbee'
/ \ /* \
Item crimson _J subterraneankb) berseemkc)
No. of animals 12(d) 12 12
Length of grazing, days(e) 113 113 113
Avg initial wt, lb. 447 445 455
Avg final wt, lb. --(f) -
Avg gain/animal, lb. 260 264 222
Avg daily gain, lb. 2.30(i) 2.34(i) 1.96(h)
Animal days/acre 181 181 181
Stocking rate/acre 1.60 1.60 1.60
Gain/acre, lb. 416 424 355
Gain/acre/day, lb. 3.68 3.74 3.14
Pasture cost/cwt gaintg) $ 32.87 $ 32.25 $ 42.77
a)Mixtures of 'Wrens abruzzi' rye, 'Gulf' ryegrass, and 'Tibbee' crimson
clover.
(b)Mixtures of 'Wrens abruzzi' rye, 'Gulf' ryegrass, and 'Mount Barker' subterr-
anean clover.
(c)Mixtures of 'Wrens abruzzi' rye, 'Gulf' ryegrass, and 'Bigbee' berseem clover.
(d)Two groups of six steer calves each.
(e)A period of 31 days and one of 82 days for a total of 113 days. Calves were
fed for 27 days (January 10 to February 6) on silage and hay in drylot be-
tween the two grazing periods because of inclement weather and poor forage
growth.
(f)Not appropriate, see footnote (e) above.
(g)Pasture cost = $136.73/acre for the mixtures containing crimson clover and
subterranean clover and $151.83/acre for the mixture containing berseem
clover. Does not include interest on investment, management, and labor in-
vovled in caring for the animals.
(h,i)Means in a row with different superscripts differ (P <0.05).
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