Effect of pasture growth rate on live-weight gain of grazing beef cattle

Ebersohn, J. P.; Moir, K. W.

doi:10.1017/s0021859600042568

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Daily LWC of animals was calculated for 2–5 sub‐periods which characterized the seasonal trends of LWC in each year, as a slope of a linear regression equation of liveweight against time (equal to the slope of a line connecting the data points when the number of data sets is two), in order to lessen the error effects of individual liveweight measurements on the estimation of daily LWC (Ebersohn & Moir 1984; Charles‐Edwards et al . 1987).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between liveweight change of cattle and forage supply in a young tree plantation in southern Kyushu, Japan

et al. 2008

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Liveweight change (LWC) of cattle grazing a young Chamaecyparis obtusa (an evergreen conifer) plantation in southwestern Japan was investigated in relation to forage supply and diet selection by animals. While the animals ate 29-53 species or species groups (mean = 42; six herbaceous species or groups, 12 lianas, 23 shrubs and trees, one fern group) during a morning feeding bout, most bites (71-97%, mean = 85) were taken from 10 species or species groups, with Miscanthus sinensis as the most selected plant (27-74%, mean = 55). Reflecting this and the low defoliation-tolerance of the grass, live leaf mass of M. sinensis decreased drastically with time under grazing. Daily LWC of animals increased with increasing live leaf mass of M. sinensis to 45 kg dry matter (DM) ha -1 , and thereafter increased with increasing percentage bite count of three non-herbaceous species, Ficus erecta (tree), Broussonetia kaempferi (liana) and Mallotus japonicus (tree), with F. erecta being the most contributing species. The results highlight the importance of grasses (mainly M. sinensis) as the basal (major) diet and the importance of some non-herbaceous species (mainly F. erecta, B. kaempferi and M. japonicus) as the quality supplement in cattle foraging in the forest environment. The results also show that adjusting stocking rates to maintain live leaf mass of M. sinensis closely above the critical level (45 kg DM ha -1 ) is a criterion in the management of this forest grazing system, in terms of meeting the requirements of forest manager (effective control of herbaceous and woody weeds) and livestock producer (satisfactory level of animal performance).Cattle performance in forest grazing M. Hirata et al.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between liveweight change of cattle and forage supply in a young tree plantation in southern Kyushu, Japan

et al. 2008

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“…This fact suggests that animal production from M. sinensis or carrying capacity of this grass does not depend on the standing biomass of the plant but depends on leaf productivity of the plant. Such a case is reported in the published work; that is, live weight gain of cattle grazing subtropical pastures was associated with pasture growth rate rather than pasture mass on offer (Ebersohn and Moir 1984).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Evaluation of forest grazing as a management practice to utilize and control Miscanthus sinensis in a young tree plantation in southern Kyushu, Japan

et al. 2007

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Miscanthus sinensis, a tall cespitose warm‐season perennial grass, occurs widely in tree plantations across Japan as a major weed. A 4‐year grazing trial was conducted in a young Chamaecyparis obtusa (an evergreen conifer) plantation in south‐western Japan, in an effort to evaluate forest grazing as a management practice to utilize and control M. sinensis and to deepen a mechanistic understanding of the responses of this grass to herbivory. The plantation was continuously stocked by Japanese Black cattle during the grazing season from May–November (July–November in the first year) at rates of 0.38–0.63 animals ha−1. M. sinensis was always the major species selected by animals, with most of the plants (80–90%) in the paddocks being defoliated during the grazing season. Reflecting these, M. sinensis plants declined with time under grazing, mainly in shoot number per tuft and partly in leaf appearance rate and the weight of the youngest fully expanded leaf, leading to a drastic decrease in production of leaves (laminae) as a photosynthetic organ and a main feed component for animals. Animals did little fatal damage to C. obtusa trees. Performance of animals was acceptable for cows that had experienced forest grazing in preceding years, but needed improvement for inexperienced heifers and calves. The results demonstrate the potential value of cattle grazing in utilizing and controlling M. sinensis in young tree plantations, which enables multifunctional land use linking forest and animal industries. Further studies are necessary to explore the optimum grazing intensity that balances effective control and extended utilization of the grass.

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