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Carrying Capacity, Utilization, and Weathering of Swathed Whole Plant Barley
Author(s) -
Baron V. S.,
Dick A. C.,
McCartney D.,
Basarab J. A.,
Okine E. K.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj2005.0171
Subject(s) - grazing , agronomy , forage , hordeum vulgare , dry matter , carrying capacity , environmental science , crop , zoology , biology , poaceae , ecology
Winter grazing of swathed whole‐plant small grain crops can reduce costs for beef producers, but little is known about levels of carrying capacity, utilization and weathering losses of nutritive value and their year‐to‐year variability. The objective of the present study was to determine carrying capacity, utilization and weathering losses to nutritive value in relation to beef cow ( Bos taurus ) requirements during winter grazing of swathed whole‐plant spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) in a field‐scale trial. Pregnant beef cows (685 kg wt.) limit‐grazed swathed whole‐plant barley (November–February, 1997–2001) at daily available forage levels approximating 2% of body weight at Lacombe, AB. Carrying capacity was affected by barley yield, utilization rate, and average daily dry matter consumption. Carrying capacities ranged from 481 to 879 cow‐d ha −1 , utilization from 75.5 to 92% and daily dry matter consumption rates ranged from 8.6 to 12.9 kg cow‐d −1 . Weathering losses of nutritive value, as indicated by the difference between that of the standing crop and the mean of grazing season swath, were slight compared to a much larger difference between grazing season swath and residue. Generally, the nutritive requirements for maintenance of beef cows (NRC, 1996) could be readily met by swathed barley.