IRRIGATED GRASS–LEGUME MIXTURES AS SUMMER PASTURE FOR YEARLING STEERS

Abstract

Average annual gains of 748 and 853 lb were made by long-yearling steers on irrigated pastures at Kamloops, B.C., in 1958 to 1960, during grazing seasons of 121 and 131 days’ duration. A comparison was made using three grass–legume mixtures, namely, bromegrass–orchardgrass and ladino clover, bromegrass–orchardgrass and alfalfa, and Reed canary grass – orchardgrass and ladino clover. The feed efficiency based on pounds of dry matter consumed per pound of gain was superior for the bromegrass – orchardgrass – ladino clover mixture. There were no significant differences between daily animal gains on the three mixtures. Neither forage production calculated for TDN nor calculated animal TDN showed satisfactory comparative relationship to beef productivity of the three pasture mixtures.From the data it appears that beef production is limited by the forage potential. Rate of stocking, whereby the forage and animal potentials may be equated, deserve further study.