Effects of dormant-season herbage removal on Flint Hills rangeland
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Authors: L. M. Auen, and C. E. Owensby
Date: 1988
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 41
Number: 6
Pages: 481-482
Summary of Methods: Kansas cattle producers that use intensive, early stocking techniques on big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) prairies may also be able to graze cattle during winter months to reduce production costs associated with winter feeding. In this study, biomass production and carbohydrate reserves of big bluestem plants were measured after simulated winter grazing to determine if this grazing use would negatively affect forage during the early grazing season for livestock production. Two years of simulated winter grazing from October to April did not decrease forage production or carbohydrate reserves during the intensive early stocking period, indicating that Kansas cattle producers can also utilize their pastures for winter grazing to reduce feeding costs. However, the authors cautioned that removing cattle from pastures in July and delaying winter grazing until October is critical to allow for recovery of big bluestem plants each year.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: flint hills, total non-structural carbohydrates, big bluestem, andropogon gerardii, winter removal, near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy, simulated grazing
Annotation: Plots were mowed to a 5 cm stubble height once a month from October - April (excluding December and February when snow levels were too high). Mowed vegetation was raked off of plots and discarded or redistributed evenly within plots. Herbage production for all treatments was determined from fixed m2 subplots by hand clipping to 5 cm on 15 May, 1 June, 15 June, 1 July, 15 July, 1984 and 1985.
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