Project Number: WVA00145
CRIS Number: 0185223
PASTURE-BASED BEEF SYSTEMS FOR APPALACHIA: LAND AND PASTURE USE, SUPPLEMENTATION AND SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
Investigators: Bryan, W. B., Prigge, E. C., Lewis, P. E., D'Souza, G. E.
Performing Department: Plant & Soil Sciences -- 1825
Start Date: 04/01/2000
Termination Date: 03/31/2005
Reporting period: 01/01/2001 to 12/31/2001
Progress Report:
The effect of diet (high vs.low gain) on reproductive performance varied with age of heifers. In response to a 47 day feeding period, young, light-weight heifers had higher conception and pregnancy rates to a synchronized timed AI program than older heavy-weight heifers. Growth performance and cost of gain over a 60 day-period were determined for commercial calves fed either a combination of pasture and limited concentrate, concentrate only or pasture only. Average daily gain was 1.12, 1.15, and 0.86 kg/hd/d with cost of gain at 0.81, 0.92, and 0.44 $/kg of gain, respectively for the three treatments. Initiated development of soil test methodology to more precisely determine amount of lime and phosphorus to apply to grassland on hill land. Supplementation in the evening enhanced dry matter intake of pasture compared to morning supplementation. Height of sward did not affect this result. A rapidly fermenting carbohydrate source (wheat) will be compared to a slowly fermenting carbohydrate source (corn) to examine effects on fiber utilization. The goal of this work is to minimize the negative associative effect of concentrate feeding on fiber utilization. Steer and heifer auction prices for the period 1994-1999 have been complied for West Virginia. These, prices will be used to better understand production and marketing in West Virginia and Appalachia. A spreadsheet template for a beef cattle enterprise budget has been prepared. It will be used to analyze experiments planned in this project. Survey of production and marketing systems of current grass fed beef producers was initiated and the chemical and sensory quality of the resulting product will be determined. A first season grazing, comparing high and low input (compost) grassland production systems was initiated.
Publications: (No publications.)
Impact:
Information from the study can be used by producers to choose a system for rearing calves that meets their production and market objectives. Rate of gain, cost of gain and weight at weaning are all important, but may be differentially important among producers who raise beef calves.