During a three-year study in Missouri, yearling steers gained 1.75 lbs. per day on orchardgrass pasture, 1.16 lbs. In the study, the carrying capacity of orchardgrass was well above bromegrass and slightly less than fescue. In a similar study involving cow-calf pairs, calves gained 1.80 lbs. per day on orchardgrass and 1.51 lbs. per day on fescue. Rotational grazing with heavy stocking rates of cattle will give better animal performance and reduce spot grazing. If plants are continually grazed short, they will be weakened and stands may be depleted.
Close grazing can be especially detrimental during hot weather.
Heavy grazing of orchardgrass during October can decrease carbohydrate storage and lead to some winter kill of plants. Stands of orchardgrass will often be more persistent when grown with a companion legume. Management for hay. Orchardgrass will produce excellent yields when grown in pure stands or with legumes. When using pure stands for hay, it is imperative that nitrogen be applied in combination with adequate phosphorous and potassium.