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J M Curtis, E K Buttrey, 141 Effects of Winter Wheat Grazing on Subsequent Crop Yield., Journal of Animal Science, Volume 96, Issue suppl_1, March 2018, Page 75, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/sky027.141
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Abstract
The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of grazing winter wheat on subsequent grain yield. Wheat pasture is a high quality forage that has the potential to support stocker cattle grazing from late fall through winter. However, in northwest Tennessee, wheat and other small grains are often grown strictly as a cover crop or for grain production. Given the importance of the beef cattle and grain industries to the Tennessee economy, a controlled study that evaluates the impacts of winter wheat grazing on subsequent grain yield was needed. Wheat seed was broadcast applied from an airplane onto approximately 16 ha of no-till cropland on September 6, 2016. Residue from corn harvest remained standing. Land was divided into 8 plots using temporary electric fencing. Four plots were to remain ungrazed (UNGRZ) and 4 were to be grazed by stocker steers (GRZ). Every effort was made to create plots of similar size with equal representation of treatments across the varied terrain. Crossbred steers (n = 20; BW = 292 kg) were stratified by BW and randomly assigned to 1 of the 4 GRZ plots. Steers received an implant and were allowed free-choice access to a monensin-containing mineral. Initial and ending forage clippings were collected and nutrient analysis was conducted on the initial clipping. Steers grazed 67 d and gained 1.01 kg daily. Initial forage mass was similar across treatments (P = 0.89) whereas ending forage mass differed between GRZ and UNGRZ (P < 0.0001). Grain yield tended to be greater in UNGRZ than GRZ plots (P = 0.09) however grain test weight tended to be greater for GRZ compared to UNGRZ (P = 0.10). Soybeans were planted after wheat harvest and soybean yields will be evaluated on GRZ and UNGRZ plots. The potential income generated from cattle weight gain may offset the slight reduction in grain yield and provide an additional source of income for cattle and crop producers.
