PSXIII-18 Effects of Spring and Fall Stockpile Grazing Management System on Performance of Fall-Calving Beef Cows, pre-Weaning Calf Performance, and Forage Characteristics

Abstract The objective was to compare the effects of tall fescue grazing systems utilizing either rotational only or and spring fall stockpiling on beef cow body condition reproductive performance, calf pre-weaning forage characteristics. Over 2 years, multiparous, fall-calving cows (n = 360/year; BW 600 ± 64 kg; gestation 113 8.5 d) were randomly assigned 1 treatments (3 reps/treatment/year); 1) stockpile (SP) 2) (CON). Treatments initiated in late April terminated December each year. Pastures 48.4 ha/replicate. CON pastures divided into eight (6.05 ha) paddocks rotated every 5 days. Twenty-five percent SP (12.1 stockpiled for initial 112 days with remaining 75% rotationally grazed (6 paddocks; weekly). An additional 50% (24.2 95 starting early August. Strip-grazing utilized when forage. Forage availability new paddock greater than during rounds 4, 5, 6 (P ≤ 0.01), coinciding Grazing increased 24 versus 0.01). Hay fed per reduced compared (59 kg vs. 347 kg, respectively; P Cow did not differ at trial end 0.13) however, BCS (5.3 5.1, No differences ≥ 0.14) observed AI overall pregnancy rate between treatments. There no birth weaning 0.30) Overall, utilization system had little impact performance but