Economic Implications of Replacing Synthetic Nitrogen With Clovers in a Cool-Sea
Economic Implications of Replacing Synthetic Nitrogen With Clovers in a Cool-Season Annual Pasture Production System
Source: (P.A. Beck et al., University of Arkansas Southwest Research and Extension Center, Hope, and University of Arkansas Livestock and Forestry Research Station, Batesville)
The objective of this research was to determine the effects of white clover additions to wheat-ryegrass pastures on steer performance and pasture production economics. Over four years, wheat and annual ryegrass pastures were established either with white clover or with commercial N fertilizer. Each fall steers (536 lb) were placed on pastures at a stocking density of 1.64 steers/acre. In the spring, a second set of steers (536 lb) was placed on pasture with stocking density adjusted as necessary to maintain equivalent forage mass across pastures.
In the fall, ADG (2.18 lb/day) and total body weight gain per calf (121 lb) did not differ by treatment.
Spring body weight gain per steer (178 lb) did not differ between wheat and annual ryegrass + nitrogen and wheat and annual ryegrass + white clover, although steers grazed wheat and annual ryegrass + white clover pastures 10 days longer than wheat and annual ryegrass + nitrogen.
During the spring, average daily gain on wheat and annual ryegrass + nitrogen was 0.51 lb/day greater than that on wheat and annual ryegrass + white clover.
Grazing days per acre did not differ, but wheat and annual ryegrass + nitrogen tended to produce greater body weight gain per acre.
Net return per acre of wheat and annual ryegrass + white clover was $62/acre greater than that of wheat and annual ryegrass + nitrogen.
Reduced nitrogen fertilization cost with subsequent reduction in cost of gain led to increases in net return even in light of reduced productivity with wheat and annual ryegrass + white clover.
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