Cattle on aftergrass or permanent grass

Charlie Charolais

Sold some charolais/lim/blue cattle at the weekend; they weighted on average 100kg more than similar stock last summer. The only difference i could figure was that last year’s cattle were on aftergrass for 8 weeks, this year’s were only on aftergrass for 2 weeks then back onto permanent grass,

Has anyone noticed better weight gain on aftergrass or permanent grass?

flatout11

aftergrass is more digestable (no stem) so you will get some benifit in terms of weight gain, the 100 kg diff however is duer to more than just a 8 week period at grass!!!

bob charles

It probably has something to do with a much flatter grass growth throughout this year so there wasnt a surplus of grass in front of the animals meaning better quality grass if you were running a low maintaince system (little fertiliser, no topping). there has to be other reasons like animals were out earlier, better silage last winter. Do your best to replicate this years good performance next year and try and make it the norm

MfMan

Cattle have thrived very well this year I've noticed. (Some people maintain that August is the best month of the year for thrive.) 2010 was so dry early in the year that it wasn't until July (and moisture) came that the grass grew the best, at least in the west anyway. Perhaps last year was a departure from the norm instead?

blue5000

MfMan wrote: »

Cattle have thrived very well this year I've noticed. (Some people maintain that August is the best month of the year for thrive.) 2010 was so dry early in the year that it wasn't until July (and moisture) came that the grass grew the best, at least in the west anyway. Perhaps last year was a departure from the norm instead?

+1

We had a drought last year till end of June, then in August too dry again to build up a bank of grass. Much better grass year this year.

pakalasa

We're just getting enough rain to keep the grass growing, but not enough to keep the grass wet. Cattle are eating dry grass so intakes are higher. It ain't running through them like other wet summers we got.

Bizzum

Any of the Dairy folk here notice an effect of cows grazing aftergrass on milk yield?

dar31

Charlie Charolais wrote: »

Sold some charolais/lim/blue cattle at the weekend; they weighted on average 100kg more than similar stock last summer. The only difference i could figure was that last year’s cattle were on aftergrass for 8 weeks, this year’s were only on aftergrass for 2 weeks then back onto permanent grass,

Has anyone noticed better weight gain on aftergrass or permanent grass?

this year has been exceptional for grass, just goes to show, that in a poor year if effort is put into grass management, there is huge gains to be had.

after grass is great for yields if alternated with normal grazing paddocks, i find if they are on aftergrass for a while yield will suffer a small bit as it will go through them to quick, esp if it is any way wet, might be different though for lads throwing a bit of meal to them as it might slow it up a bit.

bob charles

dar31 wrote: »

this year has been exceptional for grass, just goes to show, that in a poor year if effort is put into grass management, there is huge gains to be had.

after grass is great for yields if alternated with normal grazing paddocks, i find if they are on aftergrass for a while yield will suffer a small bit as it will go through them to quick, esp if it is any way wet, might be different though for lads throwing a bit of meal to them as it might slow it up a bit.

Down this part of the world (midwest) it has being an exceptionally poor year for grass growth, but the quality has being excellent