Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-2000

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Animal Science

Major Professor

John C. Waller

Committee Members

John H. Reynolds, Henry A. Fribourg

Abstract

A two-year study was conducted to use methane (CH4) production as an indicator of beef cattle efficiency on tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) pasture management systems and to evaluate the importance of dry matter intake (DMI) among different tall fescue systems At Blount Unit, two steers on two pastures each of endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) infected (E+) tall fescue, of endophyte free (E-) tall fescue, of E+/E-(1:1 ratio), and of E+/clover (Trifolium repens) were used to determine CH4 and DMI At Holston Unit, four steers and four cow/calf pairs on one pasture each of a best management practices (BMP) pasture system and of an unimproved pasture (UIP) system were used to determine CH4 and DMI Grazing occurred from March to September in 1997 and 1998. At Blount Unit, steers on E+ pasture gained less (P< 0.05) weight than those on the E- and E+/clover pastures and consumed less (P < 0.05) forage than on all other treatments There were no differences in ADG and DMI, except that cows consumed more (P < 0 05) forage than steers at Holston Unit Animals on the BMP produced less (P< 0.05) CH4 than the UIP. Cows produced more (P < 0.05) CH4 than steers The E+/clover and BMP pasture systems were lower (P < 0.05) in ADF and NDF and higher (P < 0 05) in CP and IVDMD than the other pasture systems within their respective unit The presence of clover in E+ tall fescue increased forage quality, DMI,and ADG over that of E+ tall fescue This coupled with other management strategies may reduce CH4 production.

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