Effects of grazing corn plant residue on beef cattle performance, residue characteristics, and subsequent crop yield

ABSTRACT Objective Our objective was to evaluate the effects of grazing method on beef cattle performance, residue characteristics, and subsequent corn grain yields. Materials and Methods This was a 3-yr study in which strip-grazing (SG), continuous grazing (CG), and ungrazed control (CT) treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications per year on a continuous corn production system in central Illinois. Strip-grazed plots were divided into subplots (1, 2, 3) in which cattle back-grazed. Thirty-six spring-calving, multiparous, Angus cows were used in the first and second year of the study and 42 winter-calving Angus heifers were used in the third year. Cattle grazed for 42 d each year following corn harvest. Results and Discussion Cattle in SG plots were 9.8 kg heavier (P = 0.05) postgrazing compared with those on CG plots but did not differ (P = 0.77) in final BCS, indicating adequate performance was maintained regardless of treatment. The SG and CG plots had increased ADF (P = 0.03) and decreased CP (P Implications and Applications Both grazing methods resulted in acceptable performance. Grazing corn residue did not affect subsequent crop yields; however, strip differences in yield within strip-grazed paddocks warrant further investigation.