Evaluation of wheat and triticale forage for stocker production in the Gulf Coast region

A 3-yr grazing experiment was conducted to quantify productivity, quality characteristics, and beef performance from wheat (Triticum aestivum) and triticale (× Triticosecale) forage compared with ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) for use in the Gulf Coast region. Six 1.42-ha pastures (2 paddocks/forage treatment) were seeded in early fall of each year and stocked continuously beginning in late fall and early winter with 3 yearling steers (322 ± 10 kg initial BW). Additional put-and-take steers were used to maintain available forage mass at 1,500 to 2,000 kg of DM/ha. Steer ADG was not different between ryegrass and wheat (1.51 and 1.36 kg, respectively) but was less (P < 0.10) for triticale (1.23 kg/d). Wheat required a greater (P < 0.10) mean stocking rate (4.0 steers/ha) than ryegrass (3.2 steers/ha) and triticale (3.4 steers/ha) to maintain target forage mass, and wheat supported a greater (P < 0.10) number of grazing days per hectare (497) than ryegrass (406) and triticale (415). Forage concentrations of NDF and ADF were greater (P < 0.05) for triticale and wheat than ryegrass, and total nonstructural carbohydrates were greater (P < 0.05) for ryegrass and wheat than triticale. Steer ADG was positively correlated (P < 0.10) with forage CP and total nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations and negatively correlated (P < 0.0001) with concentrations of cell-wall constituents. Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that forage nutritive value was not an especially important determinant of animal performance. Steer ADG and grazing days per hectare from these forages indicate a potential superiority of wheat for production of total BW gain per hectare in Gulf Coast stocker production systems.