Introduction

This five-year study was completed in the spring of 1997. This study has generated interest in dairy-beef as an alternative enterprise across the southeastern U. S. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production and economic performance of fall born Holstein steers on different stocking rates of no-till ryegrass.

Procedure

Holstein bull calves were raised on a milk/grain/hay ration until they were approximately three months of age. At three months of age they were randomly allotted to one of three different stocking rates: (A) 3.0, (B) 3.6, and (C) 4.5 steers/acre of ryegrass. There were 18 steers per treatment. Steers were placed on ryegrass pastures and fed whole shelled corn at 1% of live bodyweight daily until early March. At that point, steers in treatments A and B were taken off of corn supplementation while treatment C continued to receive whole shelled corn at 1% of live bodyweight daily until the study ended. A free choice mineral mix containing Bovatec® was offered to all treatments. Steers were implanted with Ralgro® at three and six months of age. Steers were weighed initially and at 28 day intervals throughout the study.

Results

Paddocks were stocked in November or December of each year and calves were marketed in April or May. Prices ranged from a low of $33.10 per cwt in 1996 to a high of $76.00 per cwt in 1993. Table 1 shows the five year average of animal performance data. The economic analysis shows that when the purchase price of these animals is $25.00 per head, the break-even price is $43.17 for animals stocked at 3.0 per acre, $41.83 for animals stocked at 3.6 head per acre, and $42.71 for animals stocked at 4.5 head per acre. These calculations were based on spring 1997 feed and forage prices. A complete and detailed report of this study is available in MAFES Bulletin 1071, Beef Production from Holstein Steers on No-Till Ryegrass Pastures.

Table 1. Five year average of dairy/beef production

¹College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University