Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
Grazing and behavioral trials were run over a 4-yr period to investigate use of warm season (WS) range grasses in management systems for beef cattle on marginal hill land. Grasses tested were switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), Caucasian bluestem [Bothriochloa caucasica (Trin.) C.E. Hubb.], indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash] and Plains bluestem [B. ischaemum (L.) Keng var. ischaemum]. The grasses were originally planted in pure stands and evaluated as summer pasture for yearling heifers following spring grazing on native bluegrass (Poa pratensis L. )-white clover (Trifolium repens L.). Other systems tested were unimproved native pasture grazed at low stocking density and Ky. 31 tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and bluegrass-orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) fertilized with 150 kg nitrogen (N) per ha and grazed at variable stocking densities from May to October. Sward production, quality and utilization under the different systems were examined by yield estimates, determinations of composition and in vitro digestibility of grazed and clipped herbage and animal production measurements. Warm season grass pastures contained variable productions of volunteer cool season (CS) annual and perennial grasses and legumes, and the natural carbon isotope ratio technique was used to relate animal selection patterns for C4 and C3 forages to botanical composition of pastures during the grazing season. Animal performance was best on an integrated system using native pasture in spring followed by rotational grazing of switchgrass, big bluestem and Caucasian bluestem at high stocking densities in summer, with a return to native pastures in autumn.
Citation
Reid, R L. and Jung, G A., "Sward Utilization in Warm Season-Cool Season Grass Grazing Systems in the North-East United States" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 19.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses11/19)
Included in
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Sward Utilization in Warm Season-Cool Season Grass Grazing Systems in the North-East United States
Kyoto Japan
Grazing and behavioral trials were run over a 4-yr period to investigate use of warm season (WS) range grasses in management systems for beef cattle on marginal hill land. Grasses tested were switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), Caucasian bluestem [Bothriochloa caucasica (Trin.) C.E. Hubb.], indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash] and Plains bluestem [B. ischaemum (L.) Keng var. ischaemum]. The grasses were originally planted in pure stands and evaluated as summer pasture for yearling heifers following spring grazing on native bluegrass (Poa pratensis L. )-white clover (Trifolium repens L.). Other systems tested were unimproved native pasture grazed at low stocking density and Ky. 31 tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and bluegrass-orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) fertilized with 150 kg nitrogen (N) per ha and grazed at variable stocking densities from May to October. Sward production, quality and utilization under the different systems were examined by yield estimates, determinations of composition and in vitro digestibility of grazed and clipped herbage and animal production measurements. Warm season grass pastures contained variable productions of volunteer cool season (CS) annual and perennial grasses and legumes, and the natural carbon isotope ratio technique was used to relate animal selection patterns for C4 and C3 forages to botanical composition of pastures during the grazing season. Animal performance was best on an integrated system using native pasture in spring followed by rotational grazing of switchgrass, big bluestem and Caucasian bluestem at high stocking densities in summer, with a return to native pastures in autumn.
