Mefluidide effects on smooth brome composition and grazing cow-calf performance.

Mefluidide, a plant growth regulator, was evaluated in two cow-calf grazing trials and one herbage trial on smooth brome (Bromus inermis) pastures stocked at recommended densities in eastern Nebraska. Mefluidide-treated pasture increased cow and calf production during August of 1982 (P = .03) and calf production was greater during July of 1983 (P = .09). Mefluidide-treated smooth brome pastures increased calf production over the 1982 grazing season (P = .11) and cow gain over the 1982 (P = .12) and 1983 grazing seasons (P = .13). Mefluidide decreased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content and increased crude protein content of smooth brome during both years (P less than .05), and increased in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) in 1982 (P less than .05). In ungrazed smooth brome, mefluidide treatment appeared to shift dry matter production to green leaves from green stem and brown leaf and stem fractions. Cell wall components [NDF, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and lignin] of green leaves were not affected significantly by mefluidide treatment, although green stems treated with mefluidide were lower in ADF and lignin (P less than .05).