Publication Date
1997
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.
Citation
Kanneganti, W R.; Dhiman, T R.; Walgenbach, R P.; Massingill, L; Russelle, M P.; and Satter, L D., "Seasonal Distribution of Forage Yield from a "Natural" Pasture Under Rotational Grazing" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 34.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session29/34
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Seasonal Distribution of Forage Yield from a "Natural" Pasture Under Rotational Grazing
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.
