EVALUATION OF WHEAT FORAGE IN WINTERING PROGRAMS FOR COW-CALF OPERATIONS-- YEAR 2

From November 18 to March 8, 106 beef cows and their calves were used to compare (1) alternate day grazing of cows on wheat pasture with calves having continuous access to wheat pasture, (2) dry wintering of cows on dormant bermuda-native pasture with calves having continuous access to wheat pasture or (3) cows and their calves wintered on dormant bermuda-native pasture with no creep provided to calves. All cows and calves grazed native range pastures from April 25 to weaning on July 9. From November to weaning, calves from Treatment 1 gained 32 lb more than Treatment 2 and 120 lb more than Treatment 3. The total advantage in weaning weight for creep grazing (Treatment 2 minus Treatment 3) was 88 pounds. Treatment 1 had a $37.30 advantage per cow over Treatment 2 and a $109.95 per cow advantage over Treatment 3 when wintering costs and the value of additional gain were combined until March 8. The grazeout period after March 8 was not an economical use of wheat pasture. In conclusion, alternate day grazing of cows and permitting free access of their calves to wheat can be an economical method of wintering a cow herd.