TITLE:
Effects of Stocking Rate and Level of Supplement on Stocker Cattle Grazing Rye-Ryegrass Pastures and Subsequent Feedlot Performance and Carcass Characteristics
AUTHORS:
Francis M. Rouquette, Kelli Norman, Charles R. Long, David Hutcheson, Joao Vendramini
KEYWORDS:
Rye-Ryegrass Pasture, Stocking Rate, Supplementation, Feedlot, Carcass Traits
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.17 No.9,
September
28,
2026
ABSTRACT: Small grains with or without annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pastures are used to background fall-weaned calves in the southeastern US. Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers] pastures were sod-seeded with ‘Maton’ rye (Secale cereale L.) and “TAM-90” annual ryegrass and stocked from December 20 to May 17 with 250 kg fall-weaned steers and heifers at three fixed stocking rates of 3.7 (LO), 5.2 (ME), or 7.4 (HI) hd/ha. Stockers were fed a cracked corn ration at 0, 0.4%, or 0.8% body weight (BW) daily. Stocker ADG was different (P P P P P = 0.23) feedlot ADG. Hot carcass weight and dressing percentage were greatest (P