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Progress Report Series No.: 67
June, 1957
AGRICULTURA. EXPERIMENT STATION
of The Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Ala.
F. V.-CSMITH, Director
Frome Beef Calf toFat Steer in Ten 
Month
on Oat Grazing and Dry LotFeeding,:.:
W. B. -Anthony
2  
J. K. Boseck, R. 
R. Harris,
P. Parks
2
, E,:M. Evans, and H. W. Grimes
NCREASING NUMBERS of Alabama cattle producers,
are keeping clves after weaning ageanid grow-
ing them to heavier weights. As an indication of
this trend, the Agricultural Market NeWS'Service
(USDA) reported that "calves constituted 55 per
cent of the total cattle marketings in -Alabama in
1950, but only 44 per cent in 1954. It is generally
agreed that this represents a desirable change in
the marketing process',provided an adequate sup-
ply of farm-produced feed and grazing is avail-
able.:
Small grain pasture is ideal feed for the weaned
beef calf because it is high in protein, low in.fiber,
highly digestible, and very- palatable. Oats are
widely grown in all sections of Alabama. It is
common for oats to be grazed until the end of
February, when the animals are removed and the-
crop is nitrated and permitted to make grain,.
Production information on ,oats grown solely for
grazing by young beef cattle islimited.
In the ,test; reported herein, oat pasture was
established and .used solely,for grazing by light-
weight stocker steer calves.. After grazing the
oats, the yearling 
steers were finished 
in dry lot,
and then sold for slaughter. In the experiment
no comparisons were-made of alternate; usages of
the oat crop.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
The experimental area consisted of two fenced,
4-acre paddocks located on a:Humphrey's silt
loam soil. The land was fallowed during the
summer of 1955 and 500 pounds per acre 
o
0-14-14 fertiliizer was applied before seeding. The,
oats were seeded at the rate of 3 bushels per re
on a prepared seedbed in mid-Sepembe, 1955.
The forage was topdressed with 40 pounds 
of
nitrogen per acre from ammonium nitrate.
Sixteen good stocker Hereford steer calves (av-
erage weight 381 pounds) were assigned to 
the
two, 4-acre paddocks on November 22, 1955, The
sto.kng rate of 2 animals per a,,cre was not
changed duriig the grazing 
life of the forage.
When it was' necessary to take the animal off
the grz ing paddocks because of bad 
weather,
they were removed to apaved and sheltered f ed
lot where they were f ed 1.5 pounds of cottonseed
meal"and2 pounds of ground sapped corn per
head dailyin addition to a full feed of sorghum
silage They were weighd at 28day ntervals
and -recirds were
- 
kept of all suppliental feed
consumed. 'At the end of the grazingseason, May
29 the animals wre gradedand their mfriarket
value w is established. I r
Il
mediately foillowiig the-
grading, the animals were allotted at raidom to
twol, groups for finisihiig-in dry lot.
Two'feeding treatments were compared n dry
lot. Lot 1 was full fed silage wii a limited grain
ration for the 
first- part of the 
trial. The other
group (Lot 2) did not 
rec.eive silage, but was 
full
fed a .mixd ration composed of ear. corn, alfalfa
hay' cotEtonsed "Imeal, 
ane molasses, 
and salt. Full
' The data were obtained at the ennessee Valley Substation (Belle Mina), Agricultui-l Experiment Statioi System
of the Aliabama Poytechnic Institute, Auburn, Alabama. The studv.y is part 
of a .project entitledimprovements:,in
ProdoEtion and- ilitzation f Feeddand Forage for Beef and 
Dairy Cattle in Alabama." "
SDepartnt o AnimalHusbndry adndry ad N trition. ,-
Tennessee Valley Substation.
'Department of Agronomy and Soils.
details of the two dietary treatments may be more
clearly stated by listing them as follows:
LOT 1:
First 61 days on feed
Sorghum silage, free choice
Ground snapped corn, 5pounds per head daily
Cottonseed meal, 2 pounds per ead daily
(no stilbestrol)
Last 54 days on feed
No silage was fed.
The cattle were hand-fed hay and a feed mixture.
Composition of ration and method of feeding was exactly
the same as that accorded the cattle in Lot 2.
LOT 2:
Full fed the following mixture
Ground snapped corn, 64.5 per cent
Cottonseed meal, 10 per cent
Cane molasses, 15 per cent
Legume-grass hay, 10 per cent
Salt, 0.5 per cent
All ingredients except the hay were mixed together. The
hay was fed loose without grinding but regulated to
an amount equal to 10 per cent of the total daily ration.
The cottonseed meal contained 5 mg. of stilbestrol per
pound.
The two lots of cattle were sold for slaughter on
the same day and carcass data were obtained.
RESULTS
Results of the oat grazing phase of the test are
summarized in Table 1. All values shown in the
table are averages for the two, 4-acre paddocks.
Because of muddy fields and cold weather, the
cattle were intermittently off the grazing pad-
docks for a total of 46 days between November 22
and March 5. During ,this 104-day period, the
animals gained 125 pounds per head (1.21 pounds
per day). Supplemental feed consumed per head
in addition to pasture was 1,055 pounds of sor-
ghum silage, 74 pounds of ground snapped corn,
and 73 pounds of cottonseed meal. From March
6 until May 29, the cattle were continuously on
oat grazing and they received no supplemental
feed. During this latter period, the cattle gained
170 pounds per head (2.02 pounds per day). The
cattle gained 57.6 per cent of their total weight
gain during the last 84 days of the 188-day grazing
period. The total gain per head for the entire
grazing period was 290 and 391 pounds, respec-
tively, for Lots 1 and 2. The comparable daily
gains were 1.54 pounds and 1.60 pounds. The
average total gain per acre from oat grazing and
supplemental feed was 591 pounds.
At the end of oat grazing, the cattle graded
Standard. Their appraised market value at this
TABLE 1. RESULTS OF GRAZING STOCKER CALVES ON OAT
FORAGE, NOVEMBER 22, 1955-MAY 29, 1956, TENNESSEE
VALLEY SUBSTATION, BELLE MINA, ALABAMA
Item Resultant'
Number of acres per paddock --------------
Number of animals per paddock 8
Number of days in test period --- 188
Average per steer
Initial weight, lb. - ------ 381
Weight on 188th day, lb.----------------677
Total gain per steer, lb. 296
Average daily gain, lb. 1.57
Total gain per acre of grazing, lb. ------- 592
Supplemental feed required per animal
Sorghum silage, lb. -
Ground snapped corn, lb.
Cottonseed meal (41%), lb.-
Total cost of supplemental feed
per steer, dollars --
-- -- 1,055
74
--- - -- 73
6.00
Summary of some costs and returns
Charge per animal 
for oat grazing
3 
............
Total feed cost per animal
Feed cost per cwt., gain
Initial value per cwt. for calves
Initial total value per steer
Initial value plus feed cost per steer
Value per cwt. end of oat grazing
Total value per steer end of oat grazing
Increase in value per steer over
cost of grazing and supplemental feed'
_$ 13.75
19.75
6.67
19.20
69.504
89.25
17.00
109.31'
20.06
Each recorded value is the average of 2 replications.
2 The cost of supplemental feed was: ground snapped
corn, $1.78 per cwt.; cottonseed meal (41 per cent),
$2.80 per cwt.; sorghum silage, $5 per ton (estimated).
The per acre cost to produce oat grazing was arrived at
in the following manner: 500 lb. of 0-14-14 fertilizer @
$1.90 per cwt.; 125 lb. ammonium nitrate @ $3.60 per
cwt.; 3 bushels seed oats @& $1.50 per bushel; and land
preparation, $9.
'Value per head is calculated on live weight less 5 per
cent shrink.
'This return would be to cover such cash and non-cash
costs as labor, repairs, depreciation on facilities, sprays,
and returns to capital investment.
time was $17 per hundredweight or $109.31 per
head. The cash cost outlay for oat grazing, in-
cluding land preparation, amounted to $13.75 per
steer' and the supplemental feed $6. Delivered
cost per head for the stocker calves was $69.50.
The average increase in value per steer over the
cost of grazing and supplemental feed was $20.06.
'See footnote 3, Table 1.
TABLE 2. RESULTS OF FEED LOT FINISHING AFTER OAT
GRAZING, MAY 30-SEPTEMBER 22, 1956, TENNESSEE
VALLEY SUBSTATION, BELLE MINA, ALABAMA
Item
Lot 1
delayed
full grain
Number of animals per lot 8
Length of feeding period, days 115
Average per steer
Initial weight, lb. 677
Final feed lot weight, lb. 921
'Total gain, lb. ........... 244
Average daily gain, lb. 2.12
Carcass grades
Choice 2
Good 6
Dressing percentages
Market weight
(weighed at Huntsville) 60.10
Feed lot weight _ - 57.23
Total feed consumed per animal
Sorghum silage, lb...... 2,438
Ground snapped corn, lb. --1,138
(15 bu.)
Cottonseed meal with
stilbestrol', lb. - 246
Cane molasses, lb. -- 255
Legume-grass hay, lb. 56
Salt, lb. 16
Feed per cwt. gain
Sorghum silage, lb. 999
Ground snapped corn, lb. 466
Cottonseed meal with
stilbestrol, lb. 101
Cane molasses, lb. 105
Legume-grass hay, lb. 23
Salt, lb . -------- --- 6
Average daily ration
Sorghum silage
(1st 65 days), lb.
Ground snapped corn, lb.
Cottonseed meal, lb.
Cane molasses, (Lot 1
last 54 days, only), lb.
Legume-grass hay (Lot 1
last 54 days only), lb.
Feed cost per cwt. gain
"
Initial value per cwt.
for feeders
Initial total value per steer'
Feed cost per steer
Initial value plus feed
cost per steer . .
Selling price per cwt.
Price received per steer
3
Increase in value per steer
over cost of feed
37.50
9.90
2.14
5.10
1.12
$ 16.01
17.00
109.31
39.06
148.37
23.43
205.04
56.67
Lot 2
no silage
full grain fed
8
115
677
948
271
2.36
3
61.74
59.42
2,019
(27 bu.)
302
437
303
16
745
161
112
6
17.56
2.63
3.80
2.63
$ 20.89
17.00
109.31
56.61
165.92
23.66
213.15
47.23
'The cattle fed silage in Lot 1 did not receive stilbestrol
until they were placed on full grain for the last 61 days
of the test. Each pound of cottonseed meal contained
5 mg. of stilbestrol. The stilbestrol premix (Stilbosol)
was supplied by the Eli Lilly Company, Indianapolis.
2 The cost of feed ingredients per cwt. was: 
ground ear
corn, $1.78; cottonseed meal (41%), $2.80; cottonseed
meal with stilbestrol, $3.30; cane molasses, $1.70; hay,
$1; sorghum silage, $0.25; and salt, $1.75. Grinding
and/or mixing feed cost 350 per hundred pounds.
Based on live weight less 5 per cent for shrink.
Results of the feed lot phase of the test are
summarized in Table 2. The cattle in Lot 2 (no
silage) made slightly higher average daily gain
than the animals in Lot 1 (2.36 pounds per day
vs. 2.12). Also the carcass grades and dressing
percentages were slightly higher for group 2.
However, the cattle fed silage (Lot 1) consumed
considerably less corn in the fattening process,
the cost of gain was less, and the return for feed-
ing was greater. As a consequence of feeding
the cattle in dry lot for 115 days after oat grazing,
the market value per animal, after deducting cost
of the fattening feed, was increased an average
of $51.95.
DISCUSSION
The cattle made good use of the oat forage as
evidenced by the rapid daily gain and high total
gain per animal. It is pointed out, however, that
the forage was never overgrazed and provided
plentiful grazing at all times. Although the value
of the supplemental feed cannot be evaluated in
this test, it was necessary when the animals were
off oat forage during the early winter period. The
feeding system chosen for this purpose proved to
be an efficient one from the standpoint of low
cost and good performance of the cattle while off
grazing.
After oat grazing, the cattle were in the feed
lot during the warmest season of the year. Never-
theless, no trouble was experienced in keeping
the cattle on feed. They finished out rapidly and
were ready for market at a normally favorable
period for sale of well-finished cattle.
In terms of feed required to produce 100 pounds
of gain, 999 -pourids of sorghum silage replaced
279 pounds of ground snapped corn, 10 pounds
of cottonseed meal, 56 pounds of cane molasses,
and 89 pounds of hay. In spite of the fact that
the silage-fed group of cattle at sale time was not
quite as well finished as was the full grain-fed
group, the feed replacement value of silage ap-
pears exceptionally good. Management systems
for slaughter cattle that include use of silage need
further investigation.
Finally, it should be noted that for oat grazing
and feed lot finishing, the cattle were on the farm
only approximately 10 months. The animals
weighed 381 pounds when placed on oat grazing
and the average market weight was 935 pounds.
Therefore, for the 306 days they were on hand,
the animals gained at an average rate of 1.81
.ponds per head daily. 
At this rate of gain, the
cattle fattened while they grew. This is.a desir-
able situation that usually results in efficient utili-
zation of feed. IDuring the:306 days in tihe test,
the net increase in value of the cattle per head
above feed cost amounte( to $72.01.
SUMMARY-
.-Starting with a lightweight, beeftye stocker
calf in November a 935-pouiid fat steer was pro-
duced for markeit in 120 months. 'Oat grazing furn
ished goodi feedfor the young testeattle s :evi
denced by the fact that the averag daily gain
during the oat grazing period of 188 days 'was
1.57 pounds. The animals fattened some in addi-
tion to growing while consuming the a6dt forage
diet and graded Standard ,-.off .igrazing..--, It was
necessary for the cattle t.be pulled off grazing
for a total of 46 days ,during- the .-early winter.
When off .grazing the, cattle were fed, sorghum
silage :and
, 
a limited amount ,of corn. and .cotton-
seed meal. The kind ,of supplemental feed pro-
vided proed to be very satisfactory 
because .of
its low cost and the. good performance of the
cattle .when they wereoff grazing.
After 'oat grazing the animals were fed in dry
lot for* 115 daySduring the summer. Cattle fed
sorghum .silage and imited grain for- a part of the
dry lot feeding period consumed total o.f 15
bushels of corn per headian gained244 pouids.
Cattle fed no silage but a full1feed of amixed
corn - cottonseed meal -ioasses, - hay ration con-
sumed a total of 27 bushels of prg rhead and
gained 271 pounds. To produce 100 pounds of
gain, the feed replaced by silage had a market
value of $7.14 or the feed replacement alue of
silage per ton was $14.29.
DUring the period of 1ppro0xinately 10 months
that the cattle were :owned on.tie farm, the net
value per head above feed cost vas increased
$72.01. ,This represents aeturnffo kver such
cash and non-cash costs as labor, repairs, deprecia-
tion on facilities, sprays, and feturns to, capital
and investment.
4 4 1
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