Abstract #T186

# T186
Cow-calf performance and gain per ha from bermudagrasses overseeded with ‘Apache’ arrowleaf clover or ‘TAM-90’ annual ryegrass and stocked at three intensities.
Francis M. Rouquette*1, Joel L. Kerby1, Kelli D. Norman1, Gerald R. Smith1, 1Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Overton, TX USA.

From 2002 through 2013, both Coastal (COS) and common (COM) Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) (BER) pastures were overseeded in Oct each year with either ‘Apache’ arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum) (CLV) without N-fertilization or ‘TAM-90’ annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) (RYG) plus N for the 7-mo stocking period. F-1 (Hereford × Brahman) cows with fall-born Simmental-sired (SIM) calves were stocked on all pastures from late Feb. to early June (SPG), and with winter-born SIM calves from mid-June to late Sept. (SUM). All pastures were stocked continuously at 3 intensities (STK) to achieve different forage mass. Proc Mixed was used to determine treatment differences. Calf (steers and heifers) ADG was greater (P < 0.01) during growth of CLV and RYG in SPG compared with SUM. During SPG, calf ADG was greater (P < 0.01) from RYG (1.24 kg d−1) compared with CLV (1.05 kg d−1); and ADG was different (P < 0.01) at all 3 STK for low (LO) 1.40 kg d−1, medium (ME) 1.20 kg d−1, or high (HI) 0.83 kg d−1; and no difference for BER. During SUM, calf ADG (P < 0.01) was different at all STK at LO (1.05 kg d−1), ME (0.81 kg d−1), and HI (0.58 kg d−1). Cow ADG during SPG was greater (P < 0.01) for RYG (0.40 kg d−1) vs CLV (0.20 kg d−1), and all 3 STK were different (P < 0.01) for LO (0.74 kg d−1), ME (0.30 kg d−1), and HI (−0.15 kg d−1). In SUM, cow ADG was affected by STK (P < 0.01), BER (P < 0.04), and STK x BER (P < 0.04). Cows lost weight on COM at all 3 STK (−0.19, −0.53, and −0.87 kg d−1); whereas cow ADG on COS was different at each STK of LO, ME, and HI, respectively, at 0.15, −0.47, and −0.89 kg d−1. Calf gain ha−1 for combined SPG and SUM was greater (P < 0.01) from COS (720 kg ha−1) than COM (638 kg ha−1); and from either HI or ME STK (758, 724 kg ha−1) compared with LO STK (557 kg ha−1). The RYG + N resulted in total calf gains of 804 kg ha−1 compared (P < 0.01) to CLV + no N at 556 kg ha−1. This 11 yr study showed calf gains per ha of more than 550 kg ha−1 on BER with CLV and no-N. Apache CLV proved to be a reliable, productive legume for overseeding BER in the southeastern US without use of N.

Key Words: cow-calf, clover, ryegrass