Effect of creep feeding and stocking rate on the productivity of beef cattle grazing grasslands

Abstract

Ninety‐six Hereford cow‐calf pairs grazing Campo grasslands were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design that evaluated stocking rate (high [H] vs low [L]) and creep feeding (CF; yes or no). Creep‐fed calves grazing L had a greater average daily gain (1.07 ± 0.03 kg/d) than CF calves grazing H (0.96 ± 0.03 kg/d; P < 0.05), but L − CF (0.78 ± 0.03 kg/d) and H − CF calves (0.73 ± 0.03 kg/d) had similar average daily gains ( P > 0.05). Similarly, L + CF calves were heavier at weaning (172 ± 3 kg) than H + CF calves (160 ± 3 kg), but weaning weights between L − CF (144 ± 3 kg) and H − CF (138 ± 3 kg; P > 0.05) did not differ. Creep‐fed calves grazed less (39 ± 10%) than non‐supplemented calves (58 ± 15%; P < 0.05). Creep feeding had no effect on milk production, body condition and live weight of the dams, so it had no impact on their reproductive performance. We conclude that CF promotes greater live weight gains and weaning weights of Hereford calves grazing Campo grasslands.