Effect of Grazing System on Livestock Performance, Botanical Composition, and Standing Crop in the Nebraska Sandhills

Effect of Grazing System on Livestock Performance, Botanical Composition, and Standing Crop in the Nebraska Sandhills PDF Author: Mitchell B. Stephenson
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ISBN:
Category : Pastures
Languages : en
Pages :

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Effect of Grazing System on Livestock Performance, Botanical Composition, and Standing Crop in the Nebraska Sandhills

Effect of Grazing System on Livestock Performance, Botanical Composition, and Standing Crop in the Nebraska Sandhills PDF Author: Mitchell B. Stephenson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Pastures
Languages : en
Pages :

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Grazing Method Effects on Forage Production, Utilization, Animal Performance and Animal Activity on Nebraska Sandhills Meadow

Grazing Method Effects on Forage Production, Utilization, Animal Performance and Animal Activity on Nebraska Sandhills Meadow PDF Author: Torie Lindsey
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ISBN:
Category : Plants
Languages : en
Pages : 70

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A study was conducted on a subirrigated meadow in the Nebraska Sandhills to determine differences in aboveground plant production, utilization, trampling, harvest efficiency, ground cover, plant functional group composition and animal performance among four grazing treatments. Grazing treatments included ultrahigh stocking density, four-pasture rotation with one occupation (4-PR-1), and four-pasture rotation with two occupations (4-PR-2). Pastures were grazed from May to August in 2014 and 2015 at equal stocking rates within years but varied among years. Stocking densities were 225,000 kg ha-1 for ultrahigh stocking density, 7,000 kg ha-1 for 4-PR-1, and 5,000 kg ha-1 for 4-PR-2. Aboveground plant production did not differ among treatments. Litter mass was 2 to 4 times greater in control treatments but there were no differences among grazed treatments. Standing dead biomass did not differ among treatments. Utilization was greater in ultrahigh stocking density treatments than 4-PR-1, likely due to trampling amounts, which were greatest in ultrahigh stocking density. Remaining herbage was lowest in ultrahigh stocking density treatments. Cool-season grass composition was greatest in the 4-PR-1 treatment and lowest in the control treatment. Warm-season grass composition was greatest in 2015 for grazed treatments and in 2014 for the control treatment. Sedges and rushes did not differ among grazed treatments. Percentage forbs did not differ among treatments and peaked in 2014. There were no treatment effects on ground cover; including litter, bare ground and plant base hits. In 2014, steer daily gains among all treatments were not different. In 2015, steer average daily gains in the 4-PR-2 were greater than ultrahigh stocking density and 4-PR-1 daily gain.

Grazing System Effects on Cattle Diet Composition in the Nebraska Sandhills

Grazing System Effects on Cattle Diet Composition in the Nebraska Sandhills PDF Author: Paul Reinhold Schroeder
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ISBN:
Category : Cattle
Languages : en
Pages : 168

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Grazing Strategy Effects on Utilization, Animal Performance, Aboveground Production, Species Composition, and Soil Properties on Nebraska Sandhills Meadow

Grazing Strategy Effects on Utilization, Animal Performance, Aboveground Production, Species Composition, and Soil Properties on Nebraska Sandhills Meadow PDF Author: Aaron Shropshire
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Grazing
Languages : en
Pages : 126

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Ultrahigh stocking density (a.k.a., mob grazing) is proposed as a management tool that results in greater harvest efficiency, animal performance, aboveground plant production, species richness, and soil carbon content. The study objective was to determine grazing treatment, haying, or non-defoliated control effects on forage utilization, aboveground production, animal performance, and soil properties. In 2010, 25 ha of Sandhills meadow were divided into 2 replications of 3 grazing, a hay, and control treatment. Grazing treatments were a 120-pasture rotation with one grazing cycle (mob), a 4-pasture rotation with one cycle (4PR1), and a 4-pasture rotation with two cycles (4PR2) at stocking densities of 225,000, 7,000, and 5,000 kg ha-1, respectively. Pastures were stocked by yearling steers (365 kg) at 7.4 AUM ha-1 from May to August in 2010 to 2017. Hay was harvested annually in July. Control plots were not defoliated. In grazed treatments, aboveground biomass was clipped at ground level to estimate utilization after grazing periods (24 hours, 10 and 15 days,). Aboveground biomass was clipped at ground level annually within experimental units in mid-August. Species composition was determined annually in June. Soil cores were taken in 2010 and 2018 at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depths. Utilization in grazed treatments differed by treatment. Mob utilization and trampled vegetation was highest followed by 4PR1 and 4PR2. Harvest efficiency did not differ by treatment. Residual standing live herbage had a treatment by year interaction where mob was usually lowest and 4PR2 was usually highest. Aboveground production did not differ among grazing and hay treatments but was greater for grazed treatments than control. Animal performance differed by treatment and year with steers gaining more in 4PR2 than the other treatments. Cool-season grasses decreased in control but increased in grazed treatments. Warm-season grasses decreased in control and were unchanged in grazed treatments. Prairie cordgrass and white clover were affected by treatment. Soil carbon, nitrogen, and bulk density did not differ among treatments. We concluded that management strategy was a driver of utilization, animal performance, and species composition. After 8 years, mob grazing was not a driver of aboveground production or soil property changes.

Grazing Method Effects on Forage Production, Utilization, and Animal Performance on Nebraska Sandhills Meadow

Grazing Method Effects on Forage Production, Utilization, and Animal Performance on Nebraska Sandhills Meadow PDF Author: Miles D. Redden
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Grasslands
Languages : en
Pages : 125

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Mob grazing using ultrahigh stocking densities is promoted as a tool to increase the health and productivity of grasslands by increasing nutrient cycling and soil organic matter. Mob grazing can be defined as a strategy in which area available to grazing animals is restricted to achieve stocking densities of 200,000 kg/ha or greater. Objectives were to determine herbage production, utilization, and cattle weight gains among ultrahigh stocking density grazing and more conventional grazing methods on a Sandhills subirrigated meadow. Treatments included two replications of each of the following: four-pasture rotational grazing with two occupations per pasture in an 80-day grazing season (4-PR-2), four-pasture rotational grazing with one occupation per pasture in a 60-day grazing season (4-PR-1), and a mob grazing system with one occupation per pasture in a 60-day grazing season (MOB). In each of the four years (2010 -- 2013), yearling beef cattle grazed the 4-PR-2 from mid-May through early August and the 4-PR-1 and MOB treatments from early June through early August. Stocking rates were equal among treatments within years but varied among years dependent on forage production. Stock densities were 225,000 kg/ha, 7000 kg/ha, and 5000 kg/ha for the MOB, 4-PR-1, and 4-PR-2 respectively. Herbage mass in grazing exclosures was used to estimate aboveground production in 2012 and 2013. Trampling and harvest efficiency were estimated every other week in the MOB and each time cattle changed pastures in the 4-PR-1 and 4-PR-2 during 2010, 2011, and 2013. Aboveground production did not differ among treatments. Average daily gains of MOB were low (0.2 kg/head/day) compared to 4-PR-2 gains (0.8 kg/head/day). Low gains on the MOB pastures likely were related to high levels of trampling and poor forage quality late in the grazing season.

Effects of Stocking Rate on Forage Nutrient Composition of Nebraska Sandhills Upland Range when Grazed in Early Summer and the Effects of Grazing on Nebraska Sandhills Meadow Forage Nutrient Composition

Effects of Stocking Rate on Forage Nutrient Composition of Nebraska Sandhills Upland Range when Grazed in Early Summer and the Effects of Grazing on Nebraska Sandhills Meadow Forage Nutrient Composition PDF Author: Jared Vern Judy
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Feeds
Languages : en
Pages : 94

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The objectives of this research were to 1) evaluate the effects of stocking rate on forage nutrient quality 2) quantify the relative proportions of current vs. previous year growth being consumed in early summer upland range pastures and 3) determine how grazing effects forage nutrient quality in subirrigated meadows in the Nebraska Sandhills. Experiment 1 was a two year study conducted on the experimental upland range paddocks at Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory. Twelve 2-hectare paddocks were assigned one of three treatments stocked at 0 (control), 0.57 (light), and 0.85 (heavy) AUM/ha. Ten 0.25 m2 quadrats were clipped per paddock during the study. Diet quality was determined using esophageally fistulated cows. Experiment 2 was conducted at a commercial ranch near Lakeside, NE. Esophageally fistulated cows sampled pastures either grazed or non-grazed throughout the grazing season starting on June 14 and ending late August in a two year study. Samples were analyzed for IVOMD, CP and NDF content. Stocked upland range paddock diet samples had decreased CP, IVOMD, and greater NDF content compared with control paddocks for diet samples. Diet samples were lower in quality compared with current year growth but greater in quality compared with previous year growth indicating cattle consumed previous year growth as part of the diet. Forage accumulation increased linearly in control paddocks but did not change in stocked paddocks. Grazed samples had lower CP content than non-grazed pastures early in the grazing season and unaffected later in the season. Neutral detergent fiber was greater in grazed compared with non-grazed pastures early in the grazing season. Diet IVOMD was most affected by grazing as season progressed. These studies indicate grazing and stocking rate effect diet quality in subirrigated meadows and upland range. Producers need to rotate cattle frequently in early summer to ensure high quality intake..

Dissertation Abstracts International

Dissertation Abstracts International PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Dissertations, Academic
Languages : en
Pages : 942

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Responses of Plant Communities to Grazing in the Southwestern United States :

Responses of Plant Communities to Grazing in the Southwestern United States : PDF Author: Daniel G. Milchunas
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Grazing
Languages : en
Pages : 134

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Agrindex

Agrindex PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Agriculture
Languages : en
Pages : 880

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Grazing and Fire Effects on Annual Grassland Composition and Sheep Diet Selectivity

Grazing and Fire Effects on Annual Grassland Composition and Sheep Diet Selectivity PDF Author: Juliet Ann Zavon
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ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 104

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