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Publication Date
1981
Description
Mob-grazing allows the study of forage response to severe defoliation by grazing animals on a limited land area. This technique was used to evaluate two Digi,taria spp., one Paspalum sp., and 13 Cynodon spp. at grazing frequencies of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 weeks. Average dry-matter (DM) yield generally increased as grazing frequency decreased from 2 to 7 weeks. Decreasing the grazing frequency from 4 to 7 weeks resulted in a DM yield increase of 50% to 75% for most entries. Grazing at 4-and 5-week intervals resulted in the highest (42%) and lowest (22%) weed contamination, respectively, when compared with the other grazing intervals after 3 years. The 5-week grazing frequency resulted in high yields of quality forage with little weed contamination. These data suggest that several forage entries can be screened by using grazing cattle on a limited land area. Furthermore, the effects of management practices on various forage indices (yield, quality, weed invasion, etc.) can be measured under conditions of severe ddoliation by grazing animals.
Citation
Mislevy, P; Mott, G O.; and Martin, F G., "Screening Perennial Forages by Mob-Grazing Technique" (1981). IGC Proceedings (1977-2023). 11.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1981/section8/11)
Archival?
Archival
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Screening Perennial Forages by Mob-Grazing Technique
Mob-grazing allows the study of forage response to severe defoliation by grazing animals on a limited land area. This technique was used to evaluate two Digi,taria spp., one Paspalum sp., and 13 Cynodon spp. at grazing frequencies of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 weeks. Average dry-matter (DM) yield generally increased as grazing frequency decreased from 2 to 7 weeks. Decreasing the grazing frequency from 4 to 7 weeks resulted in a DM yield increase of 50% to 75% for most entries. Grazing at 4-and 5-week intervals resulted in the highest (42%) and lowest (22%) weed contamination, respectively, when compared with the other grazing intervals after 3 years. The 5-week grazing frequency resulted in high yields of quality forage with little weed contamination. These data suggest that several forage entries can be screened by using grazing cattle on a limited land area. Furthermore, the effects of management practices on various forage indices (yield, quality, weed invasion, etc.) can be measured under conditions of severe ddoliation by grazing animals.
