Steer and vegetation response to short duration and continuous grazing
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Authors: J. S. Pitts, and F. C. Bryant
Date: 1987
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 40
Number: 5
Pages: 386-389
Summary of Methods: Comparisons were made over a 4-year period between a 1-herd, 16-pasture short duration grazing (SDG) and continuous grazing (CG) on the Texas High Plains. Stocking rates were the same for both grazing systems during the first year (13.3ha/AUM), two times greater on SDG than CG during the second year, and 1.5 times greater on SDG than CG during the third and fourth years. Average daily gains (ADG) were the same for both grazing systems during the first year (0.33kg/day). When stocking was doubled on SDG the second year, steers on SDG gained 0.15kg/day compared to 0.25kg/day under CG. In the third and fourth years gains were similar for both systems. Standing crop of biomass on SDG fell below that on CG after 1 year of grazing. Standing crop was greater on SDG than CG in year two, but below CG in the third and fourth years of the study. Changes in species composition were the same for both grazing systems. Diet compositions varied between the two grazing systems. Overall, SDG did not improve animal performance, diet quality, or forage availability over CG when evaluated over four years.
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: cattle, short duration grazing, continuous grazing, stocking rates, animal performance, average daily gain
Annotation: 2 grazing case studies with identical yearlong stocking rates were initiated in May 1979. About 32 ha was stocked continuously yearlong with 4 steers at 13.3 ha/AU. The CG pasture remained at the same rate of stocking throughout the study. Adjacent to CG, a 1 herd, 16-pasture, short duration grazing system was applied to an additional 48 ha. During the first year (May 1979-March 1980), 6 steers were used to stock equal to CG at 13.3 ha/AU. In April 1980, stocking rate on SDG was increased to 6.7 ha/AU using 12 steers and remained at that rate until April 1981. In May 1981, the stocking rate was reduced to 8.9 ha/AU and remained at that rate until the end of the study in November 1982.,Grasses were clipped to ground level by species.
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