Wheat Grazing and Planting Date Impacts on Livestock and Grain Production

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grazing systems with variable planting dates and cattle pull-off dates were grown with limited furrow irrigation at Bushland, TX. Grain yields averaged 40.4, 53.1, and 66.6 bulac for non-grazed check plots with mean planting dates of Aug.24, Sept. 11, and Oct. 2, respectively. Moderate grazing increased grain yield of wheat planted in August or September. Grain yield averaged 50.9, 55.7, and 46.3 bulac for non-grazed, early pull-off, and late pull-off, respective­ ly.  However, early-planted, properly grazed wheat still yielded less than a later planted non-grazed control. Adjusted gross return using prevailing costs and returns was maximized with a mean planting date of Sept. 12 and pull-off of Mar. 25. These dates are slightly later than expected. Delaying planting of grazed wheat from late August to mid-September increases grain yield and gross return but reduces total grazing and shifts some grazing from fall to spring.