The effects of grazing intensity on annual vegetation

Abstract

Pastures grazed by sheep at moderate and 1 1/2-, 2-, and 2 1/2- times the moderate stocking rate from 1969-1973 were analyzed for relative changes in cover, herbage productivity, and botanical composition. All four pastures were less productive in 1973 than in 1969, but exhibited similar trends in cover and botanical composition regardless of grazing intensity. Only grazing at 2 1/2 times the moderate stocking rate produced a residual decline in productivity following 1 year of rest from the grazing treatment. However, this decline in productivity was managerially negligible compared to other stocking rates, and would probably disappear within 2-3 years in response to the overriding influence of annual weather, especially precipitation, patterns.