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Production of Beef Calves on Coastal Bermudagrass at Two Levels of Intensity

Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tiflon, Georgia 31794

Abstract

Fertilization of Coastal bermudagrass at two levels was evaluated in terms of stocking rate, body weight maintenance, body weight gain, calving records and economics of costs and returns. Coastal bermudagrass pastures of 20.3 (8.22) and 25.0 (10.12) acres (hectares) were grazed by two groups of beef cattle which were subsequently wintered on Coastal bermudagrass hay. The pasture of one group, Treatment 1, received nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P₂O₅) and potassium (K₂0) at the annual rate of 288 (322), 72 (81) and 144 (161) lb per acre (kilograms per hectare), respectively. The pasture of the other group, Treatment 2, was fertilized at a rate approximately half that of Treatment 1. Cows nursing calves, replacement heifers and one bull were assigned to each pasture in early spring. The stocking rate per acre (hectaare) of pasture, in terms of cows, calves and heifers, average 2.67 (6.59) and 1.79 (4.42) for Treatments 1 and 2, respectively, for the 2-year study. The respective average daily maintenance weight on pasture was 1,555 (1,743) and 1,126 (1,262) lb per acre (kilograms per hectare).

During the pasture phase, daily gains of cows on Treatment 1 were lower (P<.05) than those on Treatment 2 but daily gains of heifers and calves were not significantly affected by treatments. Daily gains of all animals per unit area for the 224-day pasture phase averaged 2.18 (2.44) and 1.68 (1.88) lb per acre (kilograms per hectare) for Treatments 1 and 2, respectively. Percent non-pregnant cows, percent calf crop and average calving dates were similar for treatments.

The first year (which was relatively favorable for pasture production, cost of fertilizer and price of calves and cows) annual returns to capital, land, labor and management on a per acre (hectare) basis were $110.69 ($273.44) and $107.53 ($265.74) for Treatment 1 and 2, respectively. The respective annual returns thesecond year were –$48.22 (–$119.14) and –$21.34 (–$52.73) per acre (hectare) when the relative cost of fertilizer and price of cattle were less favorable.