Rotational Grazing Studies in Western Canada

Hubbard, William A.

doi:10.2307/3894428

Cited by 17 publications

(6 citation statements)

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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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“…He concluded that although rotation grazing may benefit overgrazed range of this type, complete deferment until recuperation would lead to more rapid and satisfactory improvement. Hubbard (1951), working in Alberta, also found that although deferred rotation grazing may improve depleted ranges of this type, it does not benefit ranges already in good condition. He concluded that conservative continuous grazing is the most practical management.…”

Section: Decreasersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana /

Mueggler¹,

Stewart²

1980

156

171

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A classification system is presented for the grasslands and shrublands of the mountainous western third of Montana. The classification utilizes the habitat type concept and is based upon potential natural vegetation. Data on plant species and environment from 580 relatively undisturbed stands were analyzed to form the classification. Twenty-nine habitat types occurring in 13 climax series are defined and described. A diagnostic key utilizing indicator plant species is provided for field identification of the habitat types. Vegetation composition, distribution, and environment of each habitat type are described in the text. Tables are provided for detailed comparisons. Management related information on forage productivity, composition changes with grazing, and range management practices is summarized for each type.

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“…The cattle herd remains in the same pasture in continuous grazing management, while the herd is alternately moved to different paddocks in rotational grazing management. In contrast to year-long (or growing season) continuous grazing, rotational grazing has been recommended as an effective tool to maximize livestock production and maintain sustainability of the operations since the mid-20th century [5][6][7][8][9]. However, there has been a long history of debate over continuous versus rotational grazing by both rangeland managers and research scientists across the world that is yet not resolved [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Effects on Tallgrass Prairie Responses to Continuous and Rotational Grazing

et al. 2019

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Cattle grazing is an important economic activity in the tallgrass prairie systems in the Great Plains of the United States. Tallgrass prairie may respond differently to grazing management (e.g., high and low grazing intensity) under variable climate conditions. This study investigated the responses of two replicated (rep a and rep b) tallgrass prairie systems to continuous (C) and rotational (R) grazing under different climate conditions over a decade (2008–2017). The enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and gross primary productivity (GPP) were compared between grazing systems (C vs. R), while EVI was compared among paddocks under rotational grazing to show the impacts of time since grazing. The average EVI in rep a was usually higher than that in rep b which could be explained by different land characteristics (e.g., soil types) associated with different landscape positions. Similar to EVI, GPP was usually higher in rep a than rep b. The average growing season EVI and GPP were higher in rotational grazing than continuous grazing in rep b but not in rep a. The average EVI of paddocks in rotational grazing systems only converged in the growing season-long drought year (2011). In other years, EVI values varied from year to year and no paddock consistently outperformed others. The variations in EVI among rotational grazing paddocks in both reps were relatively small, indicating that rotational grazing generated an even grazing pressure on vegetation at annual scale. Overall, climate and inherent pasture conditions were the major drivers of plant productivity. However, the stocking rate in continuous grazing systems were reduced over years because of deteriorating pasture conditions. Thus, the results indirectly indicate that rotational grazing improved grassland productivity and had higher stocking capacity than continuous grazing systems under variable climate conditions. Adaptive grazing management (adjustment in stocking rates and season of use to adapt to changing climatic conditions) instead of a fixed management system might be better for farmers to cooperate with changing climatic conditions.

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Rotational Grazing Studies in Western Canada

Cited by 17 publications

References 0 publications

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

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

Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana /

Climate Effects on Tallgrass Prairie Responses to Continuous and Rotational Grazing

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