Cow-Calf Response to Stocking Rates, Grazing Systems, and Winter Supplementation at the Texas Experimental Ranch

Heitschmidt, R. K.; Kothmann, M.M.; Rawlins, W.J.

doi:10.2307/3898392

Cited by 25 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…This study confirms a well-established observation, that at least in the Great Plains, individual livestock performance tends to be as good or higher under continuous, season-long grazing than under rotation grazing (Fisher and Marion 1951, Hubbard 1951, Mcllvain and Savage 1951, Rogler 1951, Smoliak 1960, Owensby et al 1973, Currie 1978, Heitschmidt et al 1982, Heitschmidt 1986, Reece 1986, Heitschmidt and Tay1or 1991. Experiments conducted at the Central Grassland Research Center in north-central N orth Dakota for eight consecutive years have also shown similar patterns with average daily gains (ADG) for cows and calves, respectively, of 0.4 kg/d and 1.1 kg/d in the continuous, season-long grazing treatment and 0.36 kg/d and 1.09 kg/d in the twice-over rotation grazing treatment (Barker 1993).…”

Section: Aboveground C and N Flowssupporting

confidence: 88%

Grazing Frequency and Ecosystem Processes in a Northern Mixed Prairie, USA

Biondini¹,

Manske²

1996

Ecological Applications

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The objective of this study was to evaluate for a 6‐yr period the effects of a twice‐over rotation grazing system (ROT) and a season‐long grazing system (SL), and compare these effects with long‐term grazing exclosures (NG) in terms of (1) species composition and basal cover, (2) aboveground net primary production (ANPP) and aboveground N uptake (ANPP‐N), (3) rates of litter and root decomposition and N release, (4) soil N mineralization and immobilization, (5) aboveground C and N flow, and (6) grazing intensity (GI) and animal performance. The study period included the drought of 1988. No major differences were found in ANPP and ANPP‐N among treatments, but there were important seasonal variations. An average of 72% of ANPP and >82% of ANPP‐N occurred by mid‐June. There were no differences among treatments in terms of decomposition and N release rates from litter and root biomass, or in soil N mineralization. Grazing, however, reduced the amount of C and N immobilized in standing dead and litter and the flow of C and N from standing dead to litter to soil organic matter. The NG and ROT treatment were more similar in this regard when compared to the SL treatment, and their similarities increased after the drought of 1988. There were no consistent differences in GI between the ROT and SL treatments. Before 1988 GI averaged 21% but in 1988 and 1989 GI increased to an average of 49% as a result of the drought and its aftereffects. Cumulative animal performance was similar under both grazing treatments but there were significant seasonal variations. Species composition was more responsive to grazing than were C and N flows. The differences in this case were found between the grazed and NG treatments but not between the two grazing treatments studied. There were no broad patterns of change in total plant basal cover as a result of grazing patterns or drought. Changes in species composition were highly dependent on range site. The most consistent pattern involved Bouteloua gracilis, which had higher relative cover in the grazed treatments than in the NG treatment. Results from this study indicate that in the grasslands of western North Dakota (1) the recommended stocking rate may be too conservative, (2) rotation grazing may allow for higher stocking rates than season‐long grazing without a major impact on animal performance, (3) rainfall is more important than grazing or grazing systems in the control of the ecosystem‐level variables measured, (4) species composition is affected by drought and grazing (but not by grazing systems) but the responses are highly dependent on range site, and (5) drought and grazing tend to increase the relative composition of warm‐season grasses and forbs.

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Section: Aboveground C and N Flowssupporting

confidence: 88%

Grazing Frequency and Ecosystem Processes in a Northern Mixed Prairie, USA

Biondini¹,

Manske²

1996

Ecological Applications

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“…Houston and Woodward (1966) ing rate on calf production cow per cow is not always this large. Heitschmidt et al (1982) found that calf production declined an average of only 7 kg cow-' as stocking rate increased from 0.132 to 0.196 head ha' and the difference between stocking rates was present in only 4 of 15 years.…”

Section: Calf Productionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Stocking rate and cow-calf production on sand sagebrush rangeland

Gillen¹,

Sims²

2002

REM

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Stocking rate is generally considered to be the most important management factor in sustainable grazing of Great Plains grasslands over management periods of 10 to 20 years or longer. Most studies to determine optimum stocking rates have compared only 2 or 3 discrete stocking rates. Our objective was to determine cow, calf, and economic performance on sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia Torr.) rangeland as a continuous function of stocking rate. Replicated stocking rates of 0.11, 0.15, and 0.22 head ha"1 were studied over an 8-year period. Cow weight declined as stocking rate increased in drought years but was not affected by stocking rate in wetter years. Weaning percentage was not affected by stocking rate but variation within treatment groups was high. Calf birth weight and weaning weight both declined as stocking rate increased. Comparing 0.11 and 0.22 head ha', calf production cow"1 declined from 206 to 144 kg cow"' as stocking rate increased but calf production ha"' increased from 22.6 to 31.7 kg calf ha"'. Net returns were maximized at $7.87 ha' year"' at a stocking rate of 0.172 head ha"', well within the range of experimental treatments. Net returns were within 5% of maximum between stocking rates of 0.156 and 0.183 head ha"'. The variability of all responses increased as stocking rate increased. Simulation indicated that improved livestock prices and increased animal productivity shifted the economic optimum stocking rate to higher levels, which would put more pressure on the conservation ethic of land managers.

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“…The SDG system was stocked with growing heifers at a rate of 0.24 ha/ AU M from early April to early October. Long-term cow-calf performance data at the ranch indicate a moderate rate of stocking for mature cows under year-long continuous grazing is near 0.54 ha/ AUM (Heitschmidt et al 1982~). Rate of rotation of the heifers was such that the grazed treatment plot was grazed every 35 to 42 days for 3 to 7 days.…”

Section: Study Area and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short Duration Grazing at the Texas Experimental Range: Effects on Forage Quality

Heitschmidt¹,

Gordon²,

Bluntzer³

1982

Journal of Range Management

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Variation in percent crude protein (% CP) of available forage was examined at the Texas Experimental Ranch as a function of grazing treatment, plant species, physiological age of plant tissue, and season. Results indicate that % CP content varied as much as function of physiological age of plant tissue as a function of plant species. Although quantity of crude protein of total standing crop averaged significantly more in an ungrazed treatment than in a short duration grazing treatment, % CP was generally greater in the grazed than the ungrazed treatment. It is suggested that an increase in quality of forage may be a primary mechanism facilitating energy flow through short duration grazing systems whereby dramatic increases in livestock carrying capacity may be realized.

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Cow-Calf Response to Stocking Rates, Grazing Systems, and Winter Supplementation at the Texas Experimental Ranch

Cited by 25 publications

References 7 publications

Grazing Frequency and Ecosystem Processes in a Northern Mixed Prairie, USA

Grazing Frequency and Ecosystem Processes in a Northern Mixed Prairie, USA

Stocking rate and cow-calf production on sand sagebrush rangeland

Short Duration Grazing at the Texas Experimental Range: Effects on Forage Quality

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