Effects of grazing system and stocking rate on cow-calf performance in the flint hills

摘要

A 6-year study was designed to measure theinfluences of stocking rate and grazing systemon performance of cow-calf pairs grazingtallgrass prairie. This paper summarizes theinitial 3 years. Late-season rest-rotation wascompared to continuous grazing over low,moderate, and high stocking rates. No differences(P>.10) were observed in body weight ofcows or calves as a result of grazing system orstocking rate. However, calf weaning weighttended (P=.20) to be greater with continuousgrazing than with late season rest-rotation. Cowbody condition score was unaffected (P>.10) bystocking rate or grazing system. Conceptionrates were also similar between stocking ratesand grazing systems. This preliminary informationsuggests that application of a late-seasonrest-rotation grazing system will support cow-calfperformance comparable t o that with a continuoussystem at a similar stocking rate.