Continuous vs Rotational Stocking of Warm-Season Grasses at Three Stocking Rates

Authors

Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Mike Trammell, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

January 1997

Comments

Published in 1997 Nebraska Beef Report. Published by The Agricultural Research Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Abstract

Pastures containing big and little bluestem, indiangrass, sideoats gramu, and switchgrass were stocked with 2.1, 2.7, and 3.3 yearling steers/acre from June to August. Continuous stocking and six-paddock rotations were used. Grazing terminated early on most continuously stocked pastures due to low herbage mass. As stocking rate increased, ADG declined; continuous Stocking produced highest (1.6 lbs) and lowest(. 69 lbs) ADG. Gai1n/acre was unaffected by stocking rate using rotational stocking (224 lbs/acre) but declined,from 250 to 133 lbs/acre as stocking rate increased using continuous stocking. Continuous stocking caused big bluestem to replace little bluestem and indiangrass and caused a slight decrease in stands.