Biological and economic effects of grazing irrigated pastures year-round on cow-calf production with spring-calving and fall-calving cow-calf pairs

The objectives of this study were to determine the biological productivity and economic viability of a cow-calf production system based on year around grazing on irrigated land: (1) grass and legume monocultures or a mixture during spring/summer/fall and (2) standing whole corn plants fall/winter/spring. During spring/summer/fall tall fescue and alfalfa pastures resulted in a 65% higher carrying capacity compared to meadow brome and birdsfoot trefoil. Pastures with a mixture of these forages resulted in the highest rate and efficiency of calf gain. Alfalfa resulted in the poorest cow and calf performance. Due to carrying capacity economics favored tall fescue and alfalfa. During fall/winter/spring cows and calves grazing standing whole corn plants performed similarly to those fed mechanically harvested forages such as grass hay but with an improvement in overall profit per cow or nearly 54%. Year around cow-calf grazing on irrigated land is productive and profitable.