Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) is the predominant pasture grass in Florida because it fits well into the extensive low-input cow-calf cattle operations. As land values increase, ranchers are looking for alternative pasture grasses that could support greater livestock production than bahiagrass. Brachiaria (syn. Urochloa) is one of the most important grass genera in Florida. Among the commercially available species, creeping signalgrass [Urochloa humidicola (Rendle) Morrone & Zuloaga), syn. Brachiaria humidicola (Rendle) Schweick.] shares many of the desirable characteristics of bahiagrass, but no comparative grazing trials have been conducted. We measured calf gains on signalgrass and bahiagrass from May to early-August (weaning) and monitored cow-weight changes from August through October over 4 years. Calf weaning weights were heavier (250 vs. 235 kg, P=0.13) and calf average daily gain greater (0.66 vs. 0.48 kg d^-1, P=0.07) on signalgrass than on bahiagrass. In October, cows grazing signalgrass weighed more (564 kg vs. 513 kg, P=0.03) and had higher body condition scores (5.7 vs. 4.7, P=0.01) than cows on bahiagrass. In both grasses, forage accumulation between May - October was similar (avg. 8980 kg dry matter [DM] ha^-1), but signalgrass had a greater forage mass than bahiagrass between July and October. Signalgrass had greater organic matter digestibility (545 g kg^-1) than bahiagrass (476 g kg^-1), but it was always lower in crude protein (87 vs. 107 g kg^-1). A freeze (-5^o C) reduced signalgrass ground cover to ~ 50% and delayed grazing in 1 of 4 yr. Forage production, nutritive value, and livestock gains on signalgrass is comparable or better than those of bahiagrass. Poor cold tolerance, limited growth in spring, and excessive growth in summer will necessitate a different grazing management with signalgrass than bahiagrass. Creeping signalgrass may be a valuable part of a bahiagrass-based pasture program on ranches south of Orlando, FL.