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Grazing Evaluation of Perennial Grasses with Yearling Steers in Peninsular Florida¹

University of Florida, Agricultural Research Center, Ona 33865

Abstract

Pastures of Sarasota stargrass, Callie Bermuda grass and Bigalta limpograss were evaluated in comparison with the currently recommended forage cultivar in South Florida, Ona stargrass, by year-long grazing with yearling steers. Pastures, 2 ha in size, were divided into four .5 ha units and rotationally grazed at initial stocking rates of five 200 kg steers/2-ha pasture. A "put-and-take" stocking system was used to adjust animal numbers beyond the initial stocking rate to maintain relatively uniform levels of standing forage. Differences in individual animal performance were not obtained among grasses over a 3-yr period. However, carrying capacity during the warm season differed (P<.01) with 975, 969, 829 and 739 animal days of grazing for Sarasota, Ona, Callie and Bigalta, respectively, during this 230-d period. Beef production of 619, 607, 513 and 532 kg/ha on pastures of Sarasota, Ona, Callie and Bigalta, respectively, differed only at the P=.18 level, but this is probably of economic importance. Average daily gain was closely correlated (r=.419 for Bigalta to r=.577 for Ona with P<.0001 for each of the four grasses) with forage in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD). However, equations involving forage IVOMD and forage quantity did not account for much more of the variation in animal performance than did IVOMD alone.

¹ Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Ser. No. 4151.

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