Steer and Vegetation Response to Short Duration and Continuous Grazing

Abstract

Comparisons were made over a 4-year period between 1-herd, 16-pasture short duration grazing (SDG) and continuous grazing (CG) on the Texas High Plains. Animal performance, vegetation response, and diet quality were evaluated. Stocking rate on SDG was equal to that on CG the first year (13.3 ha/AU), double that on CG in the second year, and 1.5 times that on CG the third and fourth years. Average daily gain (ADG) of steers was the same (0.33 kg/day) between SDG and CG the first year. When stocking was doubled on SDG the second year, steers on SDG gained 0.15 kg/day compared to 0.25 kg/day under CG. In the third and fourth years, with stocking under SDG at 1.5 times that on CG, gains were similar. Standing crop biomass on SDG fell below that on CG after 1 year of grazing. In the second year standing crop was greater (P<0.05) on SDG than on CG, but in years 3 and 4, standing crop on the SDG was less than on CG. Changes in species composition were the same on both CG and SDG. Steer diet composition and quality were evaluated during the growing season (May to October) of year 4. Steers on SDG consumed 15% more forbs (39% vs 24%) than steers on CG. No differences (P>0.05) between CG and SDG were observed for dietary crude protein or in vitro digestible organic matter. SDG did not improve animal performance, diet quality, or forage availability over CG when evaluated over 4 years.