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Publication Date

1997

Location

Manitoba and Saskatchewan

Description

A 2-yr grazing study was conducted to quantify forage available daily for cattle intake from a natural pasture managed under rotational grazing. Grazing was initiated around 1 May, and was managed with a rotation length of about 17 d each for cycles 1 and 2, and 30 d each for the rest. In 1994, under adequate moisture conditions, forage availability during 5/1-6/1, 6/1-8/15, 8/15-9/15, and 9/15-10/ 15 was 77, 66, 38 and 14 kg DM ha-1 d-1, respectively, resulting in a total yield of 8580 kg ha-1 in 175 d. In 1995, a prolonged period of dry summer reduced the grazing season to 150 d. Forage supply dropped to 46 kg ha-1 d-1 during 6/1-8/15. Natural pastures in northcentral U.S. have the potential to provide significant amount of forage for 5-6 months per year under rotational grazing, but additional feed may be needed for a month or two during periods of stress.

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Seasonal Distribution of Forage Yield from a "Natural" Pasture Under Rotational Grazing

Manitoba and Saskatchewan

A 2-yr grazing study was conducted to quantify forage available daily for cattle intake from a natural pasture managed under rotational grazing. Grazing was initiated around 1 May, and was managed with a rotation length of about 17 d each for cycles 1 and 2, and 30 d each for the rest. In 1994, under adequate moisture conditions, forage availability during 5/1-6/1, 6/1-8/15, 8/15-9/15, and 9/15-10/ 15 was 77, 66, 38 and 14 kg DM ha-1 d-1, respectively, resulting in a total yield of 8580 kg ha-1 in 175 d. In 1995, a prolonged period of dry summer reduced the grazing season to 150 d. Forage supply dropped to 46 kg ha-1 d-1 during 6/1-8/15. Natural pastures in northcentral U.S. have the potential to provide significant amount of forage for 5-6 months per year under rotational grazing, but additional feed may be needed for a month or two during periods of stress.