1. FERTILIZER SOURCES ON BERMUDAGRASS PASTURES FOR STOCKER GRAZING
S. M. DeRouen, J. M. Gillespie, and J. D. Ward
Hill Farm Research Station, Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness, and Southeast Research Station
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2. Objective of the Study
Determine effects of broiler litter and commercial fertilizer applied to bermudagrass pastures on:
1) animal performance
2) economic implications
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3. Experimental Procedures
Two-year study - conducted in 1999 and 2000
156 Angus-sired fall-born weaned crossbred calves were used:
84 head in 1999; 72 head in 2000
Stocking rate: 3.5 hd/acre in 1999; 3.0 hd/acre in 2000
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4. Experimental Procedures (Continued)
121-day trial in 1999; 112-day trial in 2000
Eight pastures were used; pasture was experimental unit
Monthly rising plate meter readings and forage clippings obtained
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5. Fertilizer Sources (Treatments) Evaluated
BL tons/acre applied in early April & late June
BL tons/acre applied in early April & 50 lb/acre N applied in early July
CF lb/acre of (N-P-K) applied in mid-April, mid-May, & mid-June, & 50lb/acre of N applied in early July
CF lb/acre of (N-P-K) applied in mid-April, late May, & early July
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8. ACTUAL AMOUNT OF N-P-K BY FERTILIZER SOURCE

9. ACTUAL AMOUNT OF N-P-K BY FERTILIZER SOURCE

10. RELATIVE FORAGE AVAILABILITY-YR 1999

11. RELATIVE FORAGE AVAILABILITY-YR 2000

12. WEIGHT GAIN PERFORMANCE6

13. FERTILIZER COSTS 6

14. NET RETURN/LOSS 6
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15. CONCLUSIONS
Similar weight gains for stockers were observed among pastures fertilized with either broiler litter or commercial fertilizer.
Fertilizer costs were reduced by 37 to 41 % with the use of broiler litter compared to commercial fertilizer.
At net economic loss resulted in 1999 by retaining calves and stockering over the summer, whereas, in 2000, a net economic return resulted except for one commercial fertilizer source.
11/19/2018