C. P. Bagley

Performance of Beef Replacement Heifers Grazing Three Warm-Season Perennial Grasses

Abstract Bagley, C.P. 1996. Performance of beef replacement heifers grazing three warm-season perennial grasses. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 9: 33–43. A study was conducted to compare the performance of beef replacement heifers grazing three warm-season perennial grasses using relatively high levels of N fertilizer. Crossbreed heifers initially 14 mo of age with an average weight of 292 kg were blocked according to breed type and allotted to pastures of common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.], ‘Alicia’ bermudagrass and ‘Pensacola’ bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge). All pastures had been established for several years prior to initiation of the grazing trials on Coastal Plain (Agric., Plinthaquic and Plinthic Paleudults) soils. All pastures received 55 kg/ha of N as ammonium nitrate starting 3 wk prior to initial grazing and at 21-d intervals during the grazing period. The “put and take” system of grazing management was utilized with stocking rates adjusted at 3 wk intervals based on forage canopy hei...