Season‐long, mixed stocking of a cool‐temperate pasture. (3rd August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mata‐Padrino, Domingo J.; Pena‐Yewtukhiw, Eugenia M.; Belesky, David P.; Bryan, William B.; Bowdridge, Scott A.
• Is Part Of: Grassland science. Volume 67:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 12
• Page End: 23
• Publication Date: 2020-08-03
• Subjects: animal production systems -- cool‐temperate pasture -- mixed stocking -- season‐long; Grasslands -- Periodicals; Grasslands -- Management -- Periodicals; 578.74
• DOI: 10.1111/grs.12281
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-6961

Abstract

Abstract: Mixed‐species grazing offers a means to diversify livestock production systems for cool‐temperate regions typified by the Appalachian plateau of the USA. Our objective was to determine how mixed grazing influenced herbage and animal production, and sward botanical composition of three grazing systems including cattle and sheep. Three replicated systems were as follows: (A) cattle only with winter grazing; (B) cattle and sheep with winter grazing; and (C) cattle and sheep without winter grazing. Herbage mass and growth rate differed by grazing period; system C had the lowest growth rate and showed an interaction of system and grazing period. The proportion of grass in the sward differed by period, and the legume component was influenced by an interaction of system and period. Forbs and dead were influenced by period and sampling location. Herbage crude protein was not influenced by treatment. Herbage fiber components and lignin were consistently higher during the second grazing period. Steers performed similarly in all systems, but total gains varied with year. Lambs in the system without a winter grazing component were heavier than lambs in the system with a winter grazing component. Live weight gains were modest. Lamb fecal egg count was higher in the system with a winter grazing component; however, the fecal egg count per gram was relatively low throughout the experiment. Animal productivity differed with year and tended to be slightly greater for the system without a winter grazing component. Our findings suggest that livestock production systems that included mixed‐species grazing and extended‐season grazing practices contributed to desirable changes in botanical composition and improved herbage productivity patterns, especially in years with ample precipitation. The practices could be used to drive pasture composition by modifying relative abundance of various plant functional groups.