David Bransby, Brian Gamble, Bill Gregory, Malcolm Pegues, and Randall Rawls

Cattle on high-concentrate diets in feedlots often gain more than three pounds per day, but this level of production is rare for cattle raised on grazed pasture. In addition, annual row crops are typically considered more profitable than grazed pasture. However, over the last few years cattle grazing ryegrass pastures in several AAES experiments have achieved weight gains similar to those commonly observed in the feedlot, but at a much lower cost per pound of gain. Furthermore, profit from these pastures has matched or exceeded what might be expected in many cropping situations.

During the last decade, the AAES has conducted a wide range of grazing experiments to evaluate different components of winter annual pastures for stocker production. These tests have shown clearly that: (1) ryegrass is considerably better than the small grains (oats, wheat, or rye) for stocker production; (2) the variety of ryegrass is important, with Marshall showing the greatest gains and with Gulf being the least productive of those tested in AAES trials; (3) supplementation with hay can boost weight gains; (4) it pays to deworm and to use growth implants; and (5) optimization of stocking rate is critically important. In addition, instead of buying cattle for these experiments, the stockers were supplied on a contract grazing basis by independent cattle owners. This demonstrated some distinct advantages over purchased cattle for certain production conditions.

More recent research has combined much of the information obtained earlier, with some impressive results. Experiments were conducted at The Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center in Fairhope and the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center in Headland (South Alabama), the E.V. Smith Research Center in Shorter (South-central Alabama), and the Upper Coastal Plain Research Station in Winfield (North Alabama).

Marshall ryegrass was planted in a prepared seedbed at all locations using 25-30 pounds of seed per acre, and pastures were fertilized according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System recommendations. Stockers were obtained in fall, and except for Winfield where the stocking rate was 1.3 head per acre, pastures were stocked at two head per acre, or slightly higher. Grazing began in December or January, and results reported are for winter-spring periods of 1997-98 and 1998-99. Pastures were continuously grazed, with no rotation of cattle. Economic analysis assumed a pasture cost of $120 per acre and the actual price per pound paid for contract grazing (43 cents at Shorter and 33 cents at the other locations).

Data in the table show that average daily gain (ADG) was more than three pounds per day for all experiments except the one at Fairhope. The lower gain at this location was probably due to an earlier start to grazing (December 9) than at the other locations (early January), and to an unusually dry spring in the southern part of the state. After 112 days of grazing at Shorter, 20% of the cattle had gained more than four pounds per day, and one animal gained more than five pounds per day (see title photo). Weight gains as high as these may suggest that some compensatory gain occurred. This would be revealed by decreasing gains over consecutive 28-day weigh periods, but there was little evidence of such a trend. Therefore, results reported here are considered to be reliable records of actual weight gains, and they match those typically observed in feedlots.

Gain per acre was relatively low at Winfield due to the lower stocking rate (1.33 head per acre) at that location, and at Fairhope it was low due to lower ADG. Cost per pound of gain averaged below 20 cents, which is less than half that typically achieved in the feedlot. Profit per acre averaged $125, which will match or surpass that obtained in many annual cropping situations. It was particularly high at Shorter because of the high price per pound (43 cents) obtained for contract grazing at this location. If cattle were purchased by the landowner, profit per acre would be even higher than that reported here from contract grazing, but this would involve a considerably higher investment, and good marketing skills. Furthermore, rotational grazing instead of continuous grazing could also result in better production and profits.

In summary, results from these recent experiments have shown that it is possible to achieve weight gains on ryegrass pastures that are similar to those observed in feedlots, provided critical conditions are met. These conditions include the following: (1) ensure the best quality cattle possible—preferably obtained directly from a ranch, rather than from sale yards where they pick up disease; (2) select a superior variety of ryegrass; (3) plant as early as possible in the fall on a prepared seedbed—oversown pasture will not have the same carrying capacity; (4) fertilize pastures properly; (5) do not start grazing until the pasture is well established—usually late December or the first of January; (6) deworm cattle with an effective product; (7) implant cattle with growth implants; and (8) stock at two head per acre.

Currently, it is unfortunate that thousands of lightweight cattle are being shipped to western states for finishing when they could be grown out in Alabama. This amounts to millions of dollars leaving the state each year. In contrast, results reported in this article demonstrate that Alabama could be the home of many grass feedlots.