Winter beef weight gain on Italian grass seed crops in South Canterbury

Abstract

Italian grass seed crops grown in South Canterbury were used as intensively grazed winter greenfeed for weaner Angus or Angus cross steers in 1994- 1996. The aim was to achieve good liveweight gain between April and October and in the process control the excess bulk on the crop. thereby spreading the economic risk associated with relying on the crops income coming from seed. Over this period, liveweight gains of 0.9, 0.9 and 1.0 kg/head/ day were achieved. Cattle were sold in early October to coincide with spikelet initiation, the optimum time to close the crop for seed. This enabled us to supply cattle on contract to a market prepared to pay a bonus for animals at the right weight and age. The crop was sown earlier than normal to build up a bank of feed ahead of the steers. Steers were shifted twice daily and backfenced to allow regrowth and the use of nitrogen fertiliser. Pasture quality and supply was closely monitored to optimise intake. Seed yields were maintained at about 1200 kg/ha during the three years. Keywords: Angus steers, grass seed production, Italian ryegrass, liveweight gain, nitrogen fertiliser, pasture growth, pasture quality, pasture utilisation