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Gulf Coast Beef Producers Attend Auburn Field Day
FAIRHOPE, Ala.— Some beef producers in Alabama have claimed in recent years to boost cool season production of their animals by increasing the seeding rate of ryegrass pastures. According to researchers in the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES) at Auburn University, there is no scientific proof to back up these claims.
Speaking at a recent Beef Cattle Field Day at the Gulf Coast Substation in Fairhope, Auburn researcher Dave Bransby said, "We compared 25 to 50 pounds of ryegrass seed per acre and grazed these pastures at stocking rates of one animal per acre, up to three steers per acre. We didn't see any significant advantage for the higher seeding rate, regardless of the stocking rate."
In other forage tests, Bransby noted that his research team saw no difference in cattle performance on Pensacola versus Argentine variety bahiagrass. Likewise, animals grazing pastures with clover versus no clover, over a three-year period, showed no consistent advantage in terms of average daily weight gain, according to Bransby.
In tests with Bovatec and Rumensin, Auburn researchers found that the biggest advantage came from animals grazing high quality pastures. "Some might think that cattle with worms eat more than healthy animals, but we found the opposite to be true," Bransby said. He noted that part of the increased weight gain of cattle treated for internal parasites is simply that these animals eat more.
Auburn University Animal Scientist B.G. Ruffin stressed to the beef producers in attendance that nutrition, not genetics, is holding back weaning weight size of Alabama cattle. He pointed out that genetics is important, but that it cannot overcome poor nutrition. Ruffin stressed the importance of implants, noting that in tests by Auburn University they increased production up to 30 percent.
Ruffin pointed out that winter is a critical time for cattle management. He explained that brood cow operations dominate Alabama's cattle industry. Most heifers either calve during this time or are rebred. As a result of this added stress, the cost of feeding during this 120-day period will cost about as much as grazing these animals the rest of the year.
Baldwin County Veterinarian Albert Corte warned producers about buying replacement animals from several different locations. "Try to buy as many animals as possible from the same farm--and know something about the health record of these animals. This will help reduce the subsequent cost of keeping these cattle healthy," Corte said. He also urged producers to get cattle treated as soon as possible when they are moved from one farm to another, because they will be under some stress from the move.
Following the formal meeting, producers toured beef and forage research areas of the Gulf Coast Substation. The 800-acre research facility, an outlying research unit of the AAES, is the site of a varied research program in fruit, vegetable, and nut crops; field crops; and cattle. Substation Superintendent Emmett Carden, Associate Superintendent Ronnie McDaniel and Assistant Superintendent Malcomb Pegues conducted the field tour. Baldwin County Extension Coordinator Ed Tunnell also participated in the meeting.
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News from:
Office of Ag Communications & Marketing
Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)
Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact Katie Jackson, 334-844-5886 or smithcl@auburn.edu
February 6, 1992
