Little grazer species effect on the vegetation in a rotational grazing system

The objective of this study was to evaluate milk yield and composition, dry matter intake, and stocking rate in pastures with tanzania grass (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia), star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis cv. Estrela-Africana), and marandu grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu). The grasses were managed in a rotational grazing system with Holstein x Zebu crossbreed cows, with a 30-day resting period and three days of paddock occupation. The pastures were fertilized with 1,000 kg/ha/year using the 20:05:20 (NPK) formula, split in three applications during the rainy season. It was used a complete random block experimental design with three factors being studied and two replications. In the experiment, four cows/paddock were used and, when it was necessary, regulator animals were added in order to obtain a supply of 7% body weight green forage dry matter. The animals were individually fed concentrate at 2 kg/day during the experimental period. Milk yield did not differ among the three grasses, with values of 9.1; 9.1; and 8.7 kg/cow/day for pastures with tanzania grass, star grass and marandu grass, respectively. Similarly, grass did not affect milk chemical composition. Stocking rate was similar among the three grasses, with values of 4.6; 4.5 and 5.0 UA/ha for tanzania grass, star grass and marandu grass, respectively. The highest dry matter intake was observed for tanzania grass with 2.6% of the body weight while stargrass (2.3%) and marandu grass (2.4%) did not differ among each other. The highest dry matter intake on tanzania grass pasture was not reflected on milk yield per animal. Milk yield and composition and stocking rate are similar among the evaluated grasses.

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The effect of applying cattle slurry using the trailing-shoe technique on dairy cow and sward performance in a rotational grazing system

Grass and Forage Science ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2494.2012.00880.x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 68 (1) ◽

pp. 138-150 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. J. Dale ◽

C. P. Ferris ◽

J. P. Frost ◽

C.S. Mayne ◽

D.J. Kilpatrick

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cow ◽

Cattle Slurry ◽

Rotational Grazing ◽

Grazing System

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Soil compaction under varying rest periods and levels of mechanical disturbance in a rotational grazing system

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss2011-026 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 91 (6) ◽

pp. 957-964 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

C. Halde ◽

A. M. Hammermeister ◽

N. L. Mclean ◽

K. T. Webb ◽

R. C. Martin

Keyword(s):

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Compaction ◽

Penetration Resistance ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Intensive Treatment ◽

Rotational Grazing ◽

Pasture Management ◽

Soil Penetration Resistance ◽

Rest Periods ◽

Grazing System

Halde, C., Hammermeister, A. M., McLean, N. L., Webb, K. T. and Martin, R. C. 2011. Soil compaction under varying rest periods and levels of mechanical disturbance in a rotational grazing system. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 957–964. In Atlantic Canada, data are limited regarding the effect of grazing systems on soil compaction. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of intensive and extensive rotational pasture management treatments on soil bulk density, soil penetration resistance, forage productivity and litter accumulation. The study was conducted on a fine sandy loam pasture in Truro, Nova Scotia. Each of the eight paddocks was divided into three rotational pasture management treatments: intensive, semi-intensive and extensive. Mowing and clipping were more frequent in the intensive than in the semi-intensive treatment. In the extensive treatment, by virtue of grazing in alternate rotations, the rest period was doubled than that of the intensive and semi-intensive treatments. Both soil bulk density (0–5 cm) and penetration resistance (0–25.5 cm) were significantly higher in the intensive treatment than in the extensive treatment, for all seasons. Over winter, bulk density decreased significantly by 6.8 and 3.8% at 0–5 and 5–10 cm, respectively. A decrease ranging between 40.5 and 4.0% was observed for soil penetration resistance over winter, at 0–1.5 cm and 24.0–25.5 cm, respectively. The intensive and semi-intensive treatments produced significantly more available forage for grazers annually than the extensive treatment. Forage yields in late May to early June were negatively correlated with spring bulk density.

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Productive performance of Nellore steers on rotational grazing on Marandu grass and Convert HD 364 grass

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2018v39n4p1627 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 1627

Author(s):

André Felipe Borges Krinchev ◽

Valter Harry Bumbieris Junior ◽

José Renato Silva Gonçalves ◽

Laísse Garcia Lima ◽

Ana Maria Bridi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Leaf Blade ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Subcutaneous Fat ◽

Rotational Grazing ◽

Grazing System ◽

Subcutaneous Fat Thickness ◽

Fat Thickness ◽

Daily Gain

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Brachiaria spp. Cv. Mulato II (Convert) on performance, meat quality and carcass characteristics of castrated Nellore steers in the growing and finishing phases, in rotational grazing system, compared to Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, under the same conditions. The experimental area was divided into two treatments: Marandu and Convert with 20 hectares each, splited in four replications per treatment, composed of five paddocks of one hectare each. Animals were managed based on the availability of leaf blade dry matter (6.19% body weight) in rotational grazing with 7 days of occupation and 28 days of rest. Ten animals were used in each replicate (testers), as well as regulatory animals whenever necessary. Animals were managed based on the availability of leaf blade dry matter (6.19% body weight) in rotational grazing with 7 days of occupation and 28 days of rest. Ten animals were used in each replicate (testers), as well as regulatory animals whenever necessary. For performance analysis, 10 animals of each replicate were used, while for carcass and meat analyses, only six of each replicate. Production and chemial characteristics of the two grasses were evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized with two treatments and four replicates; data were tested by analysis of variance using the R software. Animals fed on Convert grass were superior than those fed on Marandu grass, with higher average daily gain (0.682 kg vs. 0.605 kg), slaughter weight (470.45 kg vs. 451.43 kg), hot carcass weight (239.93 kg vs. 232.36 kg). The study also showed the possibility of finishing castrated young steers (up to 30 months) and with subcutaneous fat thickness required by industry (3 mm) in both pastures.

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The inter-relationships of grazing method and stocking rate in the efficiency of pasture utilization by dairy cattle

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600005888 ◽

1963 ◽

Vol 61 (2) ◽

pp. 147-166 ◽

Cited By ~ 78

Author(s):

C. P. McMeekan ◽

M. J. Walshe

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Large Scale ◽

Age Distribution ◽

Grazing Management ◽

Vanishing Point ◽

Stocking Rate ◽

Rotational Grazing ◽

Continuous Grazing ◽

Grazing System ◽

Stocking Rates

1. A large-scale grazing management study comparing rotational grazing and continuous grazing with dairy cows at two stocking rates over four complete production seasons is described.2. The four treatments were: (i) controlled grazing, light stocking rate; (ii) controlled grazing, heavy stocking rate; (iii) uncontrolled grazing, light stocking rate; (iv) uncontrolled grazing, heavy stocking rate.Each treatment involved 40 cows for a first 2-year phase and 42 cows for the following 2 years. Each herd had a normal age distribution pattern and seven 2-year-old first lactation heifers (17% of total herd) were introduced each year to maintain this pattern.3. Stocking rate was the more important factor affecting the efficiency of pasture utilization as measured by per acre output of milk and butterfat. In general, high stocking was associated with higher outputs per acre despite lower yields per animal.4. Grazing method was of less importance. In general, controlled rotational grazing was superior to uncontrolled continuous grazing, both per animal and per acre, but the average influence even of these extremes of management was only half that of stocking rate.5. Significant interactions between stocking rate and grazing method existed. Under continuous grazing a point was reached where production per acre declined to the vanishing point with increased stocking rate due to excessive depression of per cow yield: this point was not reached under rotational grazing at the same high stocking levels.6. The results suggest that optimum stocking rate under rotational grazing occurs at a level some 5–10% higher than under continuous grazing. A depression of 10–12% in per cow yield, compared with more lenient grazing, corresponds with optimum stocking level irrespective of the grazing system. This estimate is suggested as a guide line in applying the principles involved.

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DETERMINATION OF ANIMAL LOAD AND GRAZING SYSTEM IN THE WEIGHT GAIN OF BOVINES WITH SECONDARY VEGETATION FEEDING

International Journal of Advanced Research ◽

10.21474/ijar01/13286 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (08) ◽

pp. 441-447

Author(s):

Sosa-Rubio Edgar Enrique ◽

◽

Herrera-Cool Gilbert Jose ◽

Zavaleta-Cordoba Maria Del Carmen ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Experimental Design ◽

First Year ◽

Rotational Grazing ◽

Secondary Vegetation ◽

Grazing Effect ◽

Grazing System ◽

Two Systems ◽

Grazing Systems

The present study was to evaluate the weight gain of bovinesin three animal loads with two grazing systems and three levels of grazing, furthermore to evaluate the botanic composition of secondary vegetation areas. The study was carried out during two years, in the first year, the animal loads used were 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 animal unit per hectare (AU/ha).The vegetation which animals were evaluated was secondary vegetation of 8 years old. Botanic composition was determined by transects at the beginning of experiment. The two systems used were rotational and alternate grazing with three animals per each load and system.The initial average weights were 175 kg and evaluation were carried out each 56 days. The experimental design used was random totally with factorial arrange of 3X2, the first factor was the animal load and the second was the grazing system. Results indicated changes in botanic composition caused by grazing effect (Pâ‰¤0.05), furthermore, grazing system and animal loads showed significative statistical differences between treatments and interaction. The best weight gain was 520 g of weight gain average per day detected in 0.50AU/ha with rotational grazing system (Pâ‰¤0.05).

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Feeding systems and productive and physiological parameters of lambs raised under heat stress

The Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico ◽

10.46429/jaupr.v104i2.19041 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 181-199

Author(s):

Abner A. Rodríguez-Carías ◽

José Israel Suárez-Rodríguez ◽

Jonathan Collazo ◽

John Fernández-Van Cleve

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heat Stress ◽

Respiratory Rate ◽

Rectal Temperature ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Physiological Parameters ◽

Stress Conditions ◽

Initial Weight ◽

Rotational Grazing ◽

Grazing System

The objective of this study was to determine physiological parameters (rectal temperature = RT, respiratory rate = RR, heart rate = HR) and production parameters (dry matter intake = DMI, water intake = WI, average daily weight gain = ADG, and feed conversion = FC) of crossbred and Katahdin lambs raised in rotational grazing of native pastures (NP) and in confinement under heat stress conditions. Nine crossbred lambs (average initial weight = 19.4 kg) were used and fed in a rotational grazing system for 70 days with occupation and rest periods of seven and 21 days, respectively. The lambs had daily access to the grazing area for four to six hours, grass hay and water ad libitum, a daily supplement of 100 g of commercial concentrate and a nutritional block. In the confined system, six lambs of the Katahdin breed (average initial weight = 27.3 kg) were used, and for 28 days these were fed total mixed rations (TMR) containing 30% grass hay, 15.4% soybean meal, 54.6% corn grain and a mineral block. The diet contained 14% Crude Protein (CP) and 66% Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) and was formulated for an ADG of 200 g. The offered and rejected feed was quantified every day [4% body weight (BW)/dry matter basis (DMB)] to determine the DMI, and the volume of water offered and rejected to determine WI. To validate the stress conditions, the maximum environmental temperature and relative humidity were monitored to calculate the temperature and humidity index (THI), and the RT, HR and RR of the 15 lambs were determined. The lambs were weighed every seven days. In both experiments, the THI oscillated between 78 and 80. The lambs were under environmental heat stress conditions (THI x̅ = 79) during both studies. The averages of HR and RT in the grazing system were 118.0 beats per minute and 38.6° C, while the averages under the confinement system were 108.6 beats per minute and 39.4° C, respectively. The average RR (53.6 and 62.6 breaths per minute, in grazing and in confinement, respectively) was greater than the normal value considered for thermal comfort. Respiratory rate is the main mechanism used by lambs to dissipate heat. The heart rate also showed slightly higher values than those reported for animals in their comfort zone. However, the rectal temperature values were constant. As expected, crossbred lambs fed under grazing conditions with naturalized pastures (NP) had a low ADG (55.6 g). Nevertheless, Katahdin lambs fed in confinement with TMR had a DMI of 935.4 g/day (3.14% BW/DMB), a WI of 3.5 L/day, a FC of 4.74 and an ADG of 226.2 g. In conclusion, raising crossbred sheep in rotational grazing of NP without any type of agronomic management results in ADG that could not be considered viable in traditional production systems. The introduction of pure breeds and feeding them in confined systems with a TMR results in a pre-determined ADG (>200 g/day) and is an alternative that can be evaluated economically for its practical implementation.

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Sward characteristics and animal performance in a leader/follower grazing system with cows and sheep

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) ◽

10.1017/s0308229600024235 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 1993 ◽

pp. 97-97

Author(s):

George E J Fisher ◽

Alan Gill ◽

Anne Dowdeswell

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Stem Elongation ◽

Animal Performance ◽

Rotational Grazing ◽

Late Season ◽

Milk Output ◽

Grazing System ◽

June July

The recommended post grazing stubble height for dairy cows in a rotational grazing system in spring is 8 to 10 cm. However, this height leads to much stem elongation and reduction in sward quality in mid and late season. Consequently, pastures require topping in June/July to maintain grass quality and reduce sward deterioration, particularly in rejected areas around dung pats. O'Riordan (1989) suggested that a leader/follower rotational grazing system with ewes following dairy cows could improve pasture utilisation and eliminate the need for topping. This was confirmed by Swift et al. (1991) who also demonstrated that grazing at one ewe with twin lambs per cow improved the utilisation of grass and allowed for acceptable ewe and lamb performance without apparently decreasing cow grazing days or milk output.The objective of this work was to examine the effects of leader/follower rotational grazing with dairy cows and lambed ewes on grass tillering in a cool, wet western environment.

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Effect of Grazing System on Grassland Plant Species Richness and Vegetation Characteristics: Comparing Horse and Cattle Grazing

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12083300 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 3300 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anja Schmitz ◽

Johannes Isselstein

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Plant Species ◽

Management Practice ◽

Grassland Management ◽

Plant Species Richness ◽

Grazing Cattle ◽

Grazing System ◽

Vegetation Characteristics ◽

Forage Value ◽

Grazer Species

Horses are of increasing relevance in agriculturally managed grasslands across Europe. There is concern to what extent grazing with horses is a sustainable grassland management practice. The effect of longer-term horse grazing on the vegetation characteristics of grasslands has received little attention, especially in comparison to grazing cattle. Our study analyses the relative importance of grazing system (grazer species and regime) and grassland management for vegetation characteristics in grasslands as indicator for sustainable management. We monitored grassland vegetation in western central Germany and compared paddocks grazed by horses under two different regimes, continuous (HC) vs. rotational (HR), to paddocks grazed by cattle (C) under similar trophic site conditions. We observed more plant species and more High Nature Value indicator species on HC compared to C. The vegetation of C was more grazing tolerant and had higher forage value than HC. Regardless of the grazing regime, the competitive component was lower, the stress-tolerant component higher and the floristic contrast between patch-types stronger on HC and HR paddocks compared to C. Species richness was strongly influenced by the extent of the floristic contrast. Our results emphasize the potential of horse grazing for biodiversity in agriculturally managed grasslands.

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