Publication Date
1989
Description
Stocking rate is one of the most powerful driving variables in grazing ecosystems, but its influence on animal production is mediated through effects on pasture sward state, and associated effects on quantity and quality of forage consumed by animals. Consequently, confounding important sward state characteristics with treatments in grazing experiments will often mask treatment effects and lead to erroneous conclusions. While this problem has generally been recognized (e.g. Mott and Lucas, 1952; Wheeler et al. 1973 ; Hodgson, 1985), attempts to overcome it appear to be less than satisfactory. The aim of this paper is to discuss methods of stocking grazing experiments, with special emphasis on interpretation of results, and implications of grazing each treatment at only one level.
Citation
Bransby, David I., "Implications of Grazing Experiments which Employ only one Grazing Level per Treatment" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 4.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session10/4
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Implications of Grazing Experiments which Employ only one Grazing Level per Treatment
Stocking rate is one of the most powerful driving variables in grazing ecosystems, but its influence on animal production is mediated through effects on pasture sward state, and associated effects on quantity and quality of forage consumed by animals. Consequently, confounding important sward state characteristics with treatments in grazing experiments will often mask treatment effects and lead to erroneous conclusions. While this problem has generally been recognized (e.g. Mott and Lucas, 1952; Wheeler et al. 1973 ; Hodgson, 1985), attempts to overcome it appear to be less than satisfactory. The aim of this paper is to discuss methods of stocking grazing experiments, with special emphasis on interpretation of results, and implications of grazing each treatment at only one level.
