Stocker Growth on Rye and Ryegrass Pastures Affects Subsequent Feedlot Gains and Carcass Traits

Stocker calves were stocked on annual rye (Secale cereale L.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pastures using stocking strategies (STK) to create graded levels of gain to assess subsequent growth rates, feedlot performance, and carcass traits. During two consecutive years, yearling Angus, Hereford, and Brahman crossbred steers (n = 109) and heifers (n = 67) were exposed to different STK on rye plus ryegrass pastures in a humid environment at Overton; and Angus steers (n = 92) were stocked on ryegrass at different STK in a semi-arid environment at Uvalde. Animals exposed to STK were partitioned into pasture gain groups (Low, Medium, High) based on one-half of one standard deviation from the mean. Feedlot gain of Overton heifers and Uvalde steers were not affected by previous pasture average daily gain (ADG). The Overton steers with Medium and Low pasture gain had higher feedlot ADG than High gain steers (P < 0.05). Final feedlot weights for Low gain animals from both Overton and Uvalde were lower than the High pasture gain animals (P < 0.05). Hot carcass weight was positively related to weight gain on pasture across Overton and Uvalde groups. Other carcass traits for Overton steers and heifers were only marginally affected by growth rate on pasture. Stocker gain on winter pasture was the most significant component of lifetime performance and full compensatory gains were not made in feedlot.