BEEF PRODUCTION FROM GRASS-ALFALFA PASTURES GROWN IN DIFFERENT STAND PATTERNS IN A SEMIARID REGION OF THE CANADIAN PRAIRIES

Russian wild ryegrass (Elymus junceus Fisch.) and alfalfa (Medicago media Pers.) pastures seeded in mixed rows, or in alternate rows, or in a cross-seeded pattern were grazed by cattle from 1974 to 1980 at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. The legume persisted when seeded alone in the two component separation patterns but had declined to only 15% in the mixed row stands. Daily liveweight cattle gains were largest from the cross-seeded pastures. On a land unit basis, the beef production from cross-seeded pastures was higher than alternate row pastures by 13% and mixed row pastures by 17%. The checkered pattern from cross seeding reduced runoff and erosion by water. No incidence of bloat occurred.