The herbage intake and performance of set-stocked suckler cows and calves

Groups of eight Hereford × Friesian cows and their South Devon cross calves were set stocked over a 24-week grazing season at 3·23 (low), 3·21 (medium) or 4·24 (high) cows ha^-1 together with their calves. For the first 8 weeks only two-thirds of the total area was grazed. Increasing the stocking rate from low to medium reduced daily milk yield and cow and calf liveweight gains by 1·2, 0·24 and 0·29 kg d^-1 respectively, and from medium to high by 1·2, 0·24 and 0·23 kg d^-1. The main sward factor influencing faecal output and herbage intake was the quantity of organic matter on the pastures but the digestibility of the herbage selected also exerted a significant effect on the intake of cows. Major depressions in the herbage intake of cows occurred once the average sward height fell below 7 cm. Output of calf live weight was 628, 658 and 743 kg ha^-1 for the 3 stocking rates from low to high, and for cows 246, 179 and 30 kg ha^-1. It was concluded that decisions on pasture management should be taken in relation to the cow rather than the calf on set-stocked swards.