Stocking rate effects on stocker and subsequent feedlot weight gains

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of stocking rate in the stocker phase, on weight gain of beef steers in both the stocker and subsequent feedlot phases of production Cattle were grazed on 'Marshall' annual rygrass (Lolium multiflorum) at stocking rates of 1.63, 2.17 and 2.71 steers/acre for 105d, starting on January 7. Following this, animals were transported from Alabama to Texas and fed in a feedlot for 146 days prior to sale and processing for the retail market. Weight gain per animal decreased sharply with increased stocking rate in the stocker phase. Compensatory growth was evident in the feedlot among cattle from the medium and high stocking rates, but these animals did not compensate completely for their lower rate of gain on pasture. If contract grazing were assumed, cost/lb of gain was similar across all stocking rates for the owner of the cattle. For the landowner, gross margin per acre would have been approximately $90 for either the light or medium stocking rate. Increasing the length of the stocker phase would have been beneficial for both the owner of the cattle and the landowner.