Swath-grazed oat (Avena sativa L.) and stockpiled meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rhem) were compared with (Control) a pen-fed straw-based total mixed ration (TMR) for dry, pregnant beef cows (670 ± 88 kg BW) using carrying capacity, nutritive value, cow performance, daily feeding, yardage, and total daily costs. Carrying capacity ranked (P < 0.05): oat (637 cow-d ha^-1) > Control (454 cow-d ha^-1) > stockpiled grass (189 cow-d ha^-1). In vitro true digestibility (IVTD) ranked (P < 0.05): stockpiled forage (681 g kg^-1) > oat (588 g kg^-1) > Control (530 g kg^-1). Average cow body condition score (BCS) off pasture was (P < 0.05): stockpiled grass (3.4) > oat (3.0), while the control was intermediate (3.3). The daily feed cost ranked: stockpiled grass ($0.38 cow-d^-1) < swathed oat ($0.48 cow-d^-1) < Control ($1.05 cow-d^-1). Yardage (non-feed costs) ranked: oat ($0.41 cow-d^-1) < stockpiled ($0.50 cow-d^-1) < Control ($0.91 cow-d^-1). Total daily cost was similar for oat ($1.07 cow-d^-1) and stockpiled grass ($1.04 cow-d^-1), both less (P < 0.05) than the control ($2.25 cow-d^-1). The cost of both grazing treatments was comparable to other research, but the stockpiled treatment cost was limited by the low yield of forage regrowth.