Setting stocking rate of steers grazing wheat pasture based on forage allowance1

Performance of heavy BW (HVY, n = 16 steers per experiment in 4 pastures, BW ± SD = 285 ± 18.1 kg) and light BW (LT, n = 12 steers in 3 pastures in Exp. 1 and n = 16 steers in 4 pastures in Exp. 2, BW ± SD = 193 ± 18.8 kg) steers stocked to wheat pasture at 2.5 steer/ha was compared with LT BW steers stocked on wheat pastures at equivalent forage allowance to HVY steers (LTFA, n = 20 in 3 pastures in Exp. 1 and n = 23 in 4 pastures in Exp. 2, BW ± SD = 190 ± 13.7 kg). Grazing periods were 177 d (Exp. 1) and 133 d (Exp. 2). Fall ADG of LT was greater (P < 0.01) than LTFA and tended (P = 0.07) to be greater than HVY, whereas HVY and LTFA did not differ (P = 0.38). During the spring, ADG of HVY and LT were greater than (P < 0.01) those of LTFA. Grazing days per hectare was greater (P < 0.01) for LTFA than HVY and LT, yet BW gain per hectare did not differ (P = 0.21). Profit per hectare did not differ (P = 0.73) among treatments, averaging $781 ± 350/ha. Even though changes in animal production were observed, the lack of difference in profitability per hectare suggests that additional light BW calves can be stocked during the fall with little effect on total enterprise profitability.