Systems of Growing Cattle on Stargrass Pastures or Sugarcane Bagasse in Peninsular Florida

Florida has a substantial cow-calf industry and provides a major market for beef. The state also has extensive undeveloped resources with potential to produce forage-fed beef. Systems of growing beef steers (Bos taurus × B. indicus) on stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst var. nlemfuensis) pasture or a high-roughage diet based on sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) bagasse were compared. The level of supplement fed on pasture was also evaluated. The growing period was followed by a short finishing period for all systems. In Exp. 1, cattle provided a 24% crude protein (CP) corn (Zea mays L.) ― based supplement at 1.5% of body weight (BW) during the 161-d winter grazing period gained 0.25 Ib/d more than cattle supplemented at 1.0% of BW