Long-term cattle gain responses to stocking rate and grazing systems in northern mixed-grass prairie

Derner, Justin D.; Hart, Richard H.; Smith, Michael A.; Waggoner, J. W.

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2007.11.011

Cited by 65 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Similarly, our hypothesis that increased spring (April-June) and summer (JulySeptember) precipitation would benefit beef production was supported at moderate and heavy stocking rates, which concurs with Derner et al (2008), at least for spring precipitation. In contrast, our hypothesis that temperature would be relatively unimportant was not supported.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…3 Our models used three-month clusters (see below), not only to be in line with available NOAA predictions, but also to provide biological meaning, as total spring (April-June) precipitation influences both beef production (Derner et al 2008) and forage production (Derner and Hart 2007) in this system. Likewise, summer (July-September) precipitation could also clearly impact forage production, and because cattle grazing ended in late September or early October each year (Table 1), ending the summer cluster in September made this value biologically meaningful.…”

Section: Statistical Analyses and Model Fittingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are few long-term studies undertaken in resource management (Lindenmayer et al 2012) and beef production (Briske et al 2011), although such studies are invaluable. Of the few studies that have addressed long-term cattle weight gains (e.g., Willms et al 1986;Hart and Ashby 1998;Derner et al 2008), only Derner et al (2008) examined the influence of precipitation on cattle weight gains, finding that higher spring (April-June) precipitation totals increased beef production in northern mixed-grass prairie. Further elucidating the effects of precipitation (and temperature) on beef production would assist in modeling efforts to help ranchers maximize production and minimize enterprise risk (Derner et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prior analyses have been performed on subsets of these data (Hart et al 1988;Manley et al 1997;Derner et al 2008). Stocking rate and spring precipitation influence cattle weight gains in this northern mixed-grass prairie (Derner et al 2008). We expand on these prior studies by examining data covering the entire 30-yr period , with hypotheses that 1) greater spring (April-June) and summer (July-September) precipitation will increase beef production, with temperature having a smaller or negligible effect, and 2) sensitivity to climate variables will be most pronounced at heavy stocking rates, with decreasing sensitivity for moderate and light stocking rates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Temperature and Precipitation Affect Steer Weight Gains Differentially by Stocking Rate in Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie

Reeves

Derner²,

Sanderson

et al. 2013

Rangeland Ecology & Management

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cattle weight gain responses to seasonal weather variability are difficult to predict for rangelands because few long-term (.20 yr) studies have been conducted. However, an increased understanding of temperature and precipitation influences on cattle weight gains is needed to optimize stocking rates and reduce enterprise risk associated with climatic variability. Yearling steer weight gain data collected at the USDA-ARS High Plains Grasslands Research Station at light, moderate, and heavy stocking rates for 30 years were used to examine the effects of spring (April-June) and summer (July-September) temperature and precipitation, as well as prior-growing-season (prior April-September) and fall/winter (October-March) precipitation, on beef production (kg Á ha À1 ). At heavier stocking rates, steer production was more sensitive to seasonal weather variations. A novel finding was that temperature (relatively cool springs and warm summers) played a large predictive role on beef production. At heavier stocking rates, beef production was highest during years with cool, wet springs and warm, wet summers, corresponding to optimum growth conditions for this mixed C 3 -C 4 plant community. The novelty and utility of these findings may increase the efficacy of stocking rate decision support tools. The parsimonious model structure presented here includes three-month seasonal clusters that are forecasted and freely available from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration up to a year in advance. These seasonal weather forecasts can provide ranchers with an increased predictive capacity to adjust stocking rates (in advance of the grazing season) according to predicted seasonal weather conditions, thereby reducing enterprise risk.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Statistical Analyses and Model Fittingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Temperature and Precipitation Affect Steer Weight Gains Differentially by Stocking Rate in Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie

Reeves

Derner²,

Sanderson

et al. 2013

Rangeland Ecology & Management

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Elevated CO₂ induces substantial and persistent declines in forage quality irrespective of warming in mixedgrass prairie

Augustine

Blumenthal

Springer

et al. 2018

Ecological Applications

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Increasing atmospheric [CO ] and temperature are expected to affect the productivity, species composition, biogeochemistry, and therefore the quantity and quality of forage available to herbivores in rangeland ecosystems. Both elevated CO (eCO ) and warming affect plant tissue chemistry through multiple direct and indirect pathways, such that the cumulative outcomes of these effects are difficult to predict. Here, we report on a 7-yr study examining effects of CO enrichment (to 600 ppm) and infrared warming (+1.5°C day/3°C night) under realistic field conditions on forage quality and quantity in a semiarid, mixedgrass prairie. For the three dominant forage grasses, warming effects on in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and tissue [N] were detected only in certain years, varied from negative to positive, and were relatively minor. In contrast, eCO substantially reduced IVDMD (two most abundant grasses) and [N] (all three dominant grass species) in most years, except the two wettest years. Furthermore, eCO reduced IVDMD and [N] independent of warming effects. Reduced IVDMD with eCO was related both to reduced [N] and increased acid detergent fiber (ADF) content of grass tissues. For the six most abundant forage species (representing 96% of total forage production), combined warming and eCO increased forage production by 38% and reduced forage [N] by 13% relative to ambient climate. Although the absolute magnitude of the decline in IVDMD and [N] due to combined warming and eCO may seem small (e.g., from 63.3 to 61.1% IVDMD and 1.25 to 1.04% [N] for Pascopyrum smithii), such shifts could have substantial consequences for the rate at which ruminants gain weight during the primary growing season in the largest remaining rangeland ecosystem in North America. With forage production increases, declining forage quality could potentially be mitigated by adaptively increasing stocking rates, and through management such as prescribed burning, fertilization at low rates, and legume interseeding to enhance forage quality.

show abstract

Adaptive rangeland management benefits grassland birds utilizing opposing vegetation structure in the shortgrass steppe

Davis

Augustine²,

Monroe

et al. 2019

Ecological Applications

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Rangelands are temporally and spatially complex socioecological systems on which the predominant land use is livestock production. In North America, rangelands also contain approximately 80% of remaining habitat for grassland birds, a guild of species that has experienced precipitous declines since the 1970s. While livestock grazing management may benefit certain grassland bird species by generating the vegetation structure and density they prefer, these outcomes are poorly understood for avian species breeding in the shortgrass steppe. We evaluated how two grazing management systems, continuous, season‐long grazing and adaptive, rest‐rotational grazing, affected grassland bird abundance from 2013 to 2017 in Colorado's shortgrass steppe. We examined grazing impacts in conjunction with ecological sites, which constitute unique soil and plant communities. When grazing management was evaluated in conjunction with spatial variation in ecological sites, we found three of our five focal bird species responded to grazing management. McCown's Longspur abundance decreased in pastures rested from grazing the previous year. The effect of grazing on Horned Lark and Grasshopper Sparrow depended on ecological site: Horned Lark density was highest in pastures that were intensively grazed and Grasshopper Sparrow density was highest in pastures that were rested the previous year in the least productive ecological site. In addition, densities of all species varied across ecological sites. Our results suggest consideration of soil and vegetation characteristics can inform how adaptive management is applied on a landscape to benefit the full suite of breeding grassland birds, including species that have seemingly contrasting habitat needs. For example, a manager could target adaptive drought mitigation practices, such as resting pastures for 1 yr to generate grassbanks, in less productive soils to benefit grassland birds that prefer taller/denser vegetation structure, or could apply intensive, short‐duration grazing on less productive soils to benefit species preferring shorter/sparser vegetation. A single year of intensive, short‐duration grazing (i.e., one component of our rotational treatment) across the landscape, however, might not create sufficient habitat for species that prefer short/sparse vegetation in our system (e.g., McCown's Longspur). Ultimately, our study indicates how cattle production on rangelands can congruently support grassland bird populations in the shortgrass steppe.

show abstract

Long-term cattle gain responses to stocking rate and grazing systems in northern mixed-grass prairie

Cited by 65 publications

References 13 publications

Temperature and Precipitation Affect Steer Weight Gains Differentially by Stocking Rate in Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie

Temperature and Precipitation Affect Steer Weight Gains Differentially by Stocking Rate in Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie

Elevated CO₂ induces substantial and persistent declines in forage quality irrespective of warming in mixedgrass prairie

Adaptive rangeland management benefits grassland birds utilizing opposing vegetation structure in the shortgrass steppe

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Long-term cattle gain responses to stocking rate and grazing systems in northern mixed-grass prairie

Cited by 65 publications

References 13 publications

Temperature and Precipitation Affect Steer Weight Gains Differentially by Stocking Rate in Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie

Temperature and Precipitation Affect Steer Weight Gains Differentially by Stocking Rate in Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie

Elevated CO2 induces substantial and persistent declines in forage quality irrespective of warming in mixedgrass prairie

Adaptive rangeland management benefits grassland birds utilizing opposing vegetation structure in the shortgrass steppe

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Elevated CO₂ induces substantial and persistent declines in forage quality irrespective of warming in mixedgrass prairie