Effects of tillage method and seeding rate of wheat pasture on forage production and calf performance

Objectives: Our objectives were to determine the effects of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) establishment method [conventional tillage (CT) vs. no-till (NT)] and seeding rate on forage and animal production.Materials and Methods: Pastures were planted in early September of each year with seeding rates (SR) of 67, 100, or 134 kg of wheat/ha. Steers (n = 144; BW = 235 + 23.2 kg) were placed on wheat pasture for the fall and winter grazing season and were replaced by a new set of steers (n = 288, BW = 263 + 19.1 kg) for spring grazeout. Forage was sampled monthly for forage production and nutritive quality determination.Results and Discussion: Increasing SR resulted in increased (P < 0.02) forage mass and forage allowance but tended (P < 0.08) to decrease CP and ME of wheat forage in the fall and winter. No-till tended (P < 0.09) to produce less forage mass during the fall and winter but tended (P = 0.08) to increase forage mass in April. Increasing SR tended (P = 0.09) to increase steer ADG during the fall and winter. Steer gains during the fall and winter were not affected (P = 0.95) by tillage system and were improved (P = 0.01) by NT in the spring.Implications and Applications: Increasing SR increased fall forage production in both CT and NT and tended to increase steer gains in the fall, without increasing total gain per hectare during the fall. No-till establishment methods have production advantages that will likely improve farm net returns.