Moving and Mixing Range Steers

Abstract

Knowledge of the weight-change response caused by moving range steers to strange pastures and mixing them with strange cattle is needed to help develop and apply improved range rotation and other grazing management systems. A 3-year grazing study showed that yearling Hereford steers were not greatly disturbed by either change of pasture or associates. The steers adjusted rapidly to new conditions, and compensatory gain offset most of the slightly smaller weight gain that occurred when the steers were moved and mixed. Behavioral disturbances were small. A little fighting and fence-walking occurred when the steers were moved and mixed, but this lasted for only 1 or 2 days. The weight-change response from moving and mixing range steers does not appear to be an important factor in the development of range rotation grazing systems, or in making other range use decisions which involve moving and mixing.