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Influence of Cow Frame Size and Fatness on Seasonal Patterns of Forage Intake, Performance and Efficiency of Angus Cow-Calf Pairs Grazing Fescue-Legume or Fescue Pastures¹

University of Tennessee and US Department of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN 37901

Abstract

Patterns of forage intake, ingesta quality, cow weight and fatness, milk production, calf growth and efficiencies of milk production and calf growth were measured over 5 yr for 197 mature Angus cows. These cows calved January through March and grazed either fescue-legume (70% fescue, 30% red and ladino clover and lespedeza) or fescue pastures. Forage quality and intake were measured by an internal (acid detergent lignin), external (Cr₂O₃) dilution technique for cows (estimated weekly from April 30 to September 29) and for calves (three, 10-d trials on May 30, June 29 and August 29). Cows and calves were weighed and milk production measured (weigh-suckle-weigh technique) monthly during this time. Cow type at initiation of the study was characterized by a factor analysis that yielded two orthogonal factors identified as frame size and fatness characteristics. These factors were then related to patterns of energy intake, expenditure and efficiency. Large frame cows grazing fescue-legume consumed more (P<.05) digestible energy (DE) during the first part of the grazing season (April 29 through August 29), gave more (P<.05) milk throughout and had faster growing calves than small frame cows. The opposite tendency was noted for cows grazing fescue although the variation among cows was less. Efficiency of conversion of DE (above maintenance costs) to milk was negatively related to frame size for both pasture types but was much more pronounced for cows grazing fescue. Fat cows consumed more (P<.05) DE during the first part of the grazing season than did thin cows regardless of pasture type, but these differences decreased as the season progressed. Among the initially fat cows, those grazing fescue-legume maintained more (P<.05) of their weight and condition during the season than those grazing fescue. Thin cows maintained similar weight and condition regardless of pasture type. Pairs with dams that were initially fat were less (P<.05) efficient in calf growth when grazing fescue-legume but more (P<.05) efficient when grazing fescue.

¹ Published with the approval of the Dean of Tennessee Agr. Exp. Sta., Knoxville 37901.

² Present address: Texas Agr. Exp. Sta., Uvalde, TX 78801.

³ USDA-ARS, Anim. Sci. Dept., Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901.

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