A comparison of highveld fodders and fodder flows for growing out long yearling steers.

Abstract

A fodder flow/animal experiment 40,8 ha in extent (7,5 ha irrigated), with 19 paddocks, was carried out over a two and a half year period. The aims were: firstly, to compare fodder crops within seasons, and fodder flows over three seasons (winter-spring-summer), by means of pasture and animal parameters; secondly, to make economic comparisons between different fodder flows, for growing out beef steers. The conclusions were that: Digitaria eriantha ssp. eriantha is superior to Eragrostis curvula cv. Ermelo for animal production; maize residue gives economically favourable results due to low costs and compensatory growth of cattle; an irrigated pasture providing fodder in more than one season of a flow, for example, Festuca foggage - Festuca pasture - Digitaria pasture, gives a very profitable fodder flow, because the costs of production are divided between two seasons; dryland fodder flows with the sequence maize residue - silage or hay - Digitaria or, with silage or hay replacing the maize residue, were also very profitable; and, the fodder flow giving the highest livemass gain per steer, is not necessarily the most economic. Different kinds and classes of livestock require different fodder flows.

Keywords: animal production; beef production; beef steers; carrying capacity; cattle pasture; compensatory growth; digitaria eriantha; eragrostis curvula; fodder; Fodder flows; foggage; hay; Highveld fodders; live mass gain; pasture economics; pasture production; Seasonality; silage; Yearling steers

Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa.