Pastures containing big and little bluestem, indiangrass, sideoats gramu, and switchgrass were stocked with 2.1, 2.7, and 3.3 yearling steers/acre from June to August. Continuous stocking and six-paddock rotations were used. Grazing terminated early on most continuously  stocked pastures due to low herbage mass. As stocking rate increased, ADG declined; continuous Stocking produced highest (1.6 lbs) and lowest(. 69 lbs) ADG. Gai1n/acre was unaffected by stocking rate using rotational stocking (224 lbs/acre) but declined,from 250 to 133 lbs/acre as stocking rate increased using continuous stocking. Continuous stocking caused big bluestem to replace little bluestem and indiangrass and caused a  slight decrease in stands

Anderson, Bruce

Klopfenstein, Terry J.

Trammell, Mike

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department January 1997 Continuous vs Rotational Stocking of Warm-Season Grasses at Three Stocking Rates Bruce Anderson University of Nebraska-Lincoln, banderson1@unl.edu Mike Trammell University of Nebraska-Lincoln Terry J. Klopfenstein University of Nebraska-Lincoln, tklopfenstein1@unl.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr  Part of the Animal Sciences Commons Anderson, Bruce; Trammell, Mike; and Klopfenstein, Terry J., "Continuous vs Rotational Stocking of Warm-Season Grasses at Three Stocking Rates" (1997). Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 428. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/428 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Table 3. hlachine harvested ~ i e l d s  for grazed and unerazed areas and residual corn estimates. Y~eld. butacre Residual com. butacre Year GRa UGF1 GCa UGC" Con\ ent~onal R~dge-t~l l  fall following grazing in the previous year. Yields for both grazed and ungrazed areas were variable froin year to year showing no definitive trends. Residual corn estimates were different (P < .05) only in 1993. the same year in which a difference was found in cattle . . . .  . . galns lndlcating that gains are some- aGR=grazedridge-till.UGR=u~~grazedridge-t~ll.GC=grazedcon~ent~o~~al UGC=ungrazedcon\entional what dependent on residual corn. ln  b C ~ e a n ~  \\~tIiln a r o u  \ \ ~ t h  unlllte superscripts d~ffer  (P  < 05)  1994 and 1995. residual corn estimates were much closer as were cattle gains. frozen ground and little mud. This trial Table 3 shows machine harvested also showed a difference in residual yields and residual corn estimates bro- ID I Jordon g r a d ~ ~ a t e  student. Terr) Klopfe~ls te~~l  Professor MarkK1emesrud.research cornestimateswhichpartiallyaccounted lien down by year. No residual corn Anlmalsclence Llncoln.Gar) Lesolng for the increased gains seen in the ridge- samples were collected before the 1992- ResearchAsslstantProfessor.Centerfor Sustalllable till fields. 1993 trial. Yields were measured in the Asrlcultural %stems Lincoln ....................................... Continuous vs Rotational Stocking of Warm- Season Grasses at Three Stocking Rates Bruce Anderson Mike Trammel1 Terry Klopfenstein' Continuous stocking changes species composition ofgrass stands and may affect long-term produc- tivity. Rotational stocking length- ens the grazing season but may not increase total gains. Summary Pastures containing big and Iittle bluestem, indiangrass, sideoats gramu, and s~t~itchgrass nzre  stocked 11,ith 2.1, 2.7, and 3.3 yearling steers/acre j?om Jzlne to Azlgzat. Continuous stocking and six-puddock rotations were used. Grazing ternzinated earlj~ on n7ost con- tinuoztslj~ stocked pastures due to low herbage nzuss. As stocking rute in- creased, ADG declined; continztozts stockingprodzlced highest (1.6 lbs) and lo~t,est (. 69 16s) ADG. Gai17/ucre ~ v u s  ztnufected bjl stocking rate ztsing rota- tional stocking (224 Ibs/ucre) but de- clined ,fi.o7?7 2250 to 133 lbs/ucre as stocking rute increased ztsing continu- ozls stocking. Continztozts stocking caused big bluestem to replace Iittle bluestem and indiangrass and caz~sed aslight decrease in stands. Introduction Many studies have shown that graz- ing systems including warm-season grass pastures are more productive than grazing only cool-season grasses. In addition, numerous reports extol the benefits of rotational stocliing, but re- search comparisons rarely have found large differences in animal gains be- tween continuous and rotational stocli- ing. Stocking rate is the most important controllable factor influencing animal and pasture performance, regardless of the grass grazed. Despite their impor- tance, few studies have evaluated either stocking rate or grazing methods of warm-season grasses. Stocking rate and grazing methods influence animal and pasture perfor- mance several ways. Gain per animal remains constant at stocking rates be- low a critical level and decrease above that level. Gain per acre increases with stocking rate until gain per animal be- comes so low that gain per acre declines rapidly with further increases in stock- ing rate. Plant species differ in their response to grazing so botanical com- position may change under various stocking rates and combinations ofgraz- ing and rest. This study examined botanical changes in mixed stands of wann-sea- son grasses and measured yearling cattle gains as influenced by continuous or rotational stocking at three stocking rates. Procedure Eighteen seeded pastures con- taining a mixture of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardli). indiangrass (Sorghastrunz nutans). sideoats grama (Boutelozla czlrtlpendzda). little blue- stein (Schirachj~r ium scoparlunl), and switchgrass (Panlcunz vlrgatz~n~) were grazed at the Agricultural Research and Development Center near Ithaca, NE during 1993-1995. Pastures contained about 3.3 acres and were grazed as a 3 x 3 factorial with 2.1, 2.7, and 3.3 yearling steers per acre. Continuous stocliing and six-pad- dock rotations with either fixed (5-day graze, 25-day rest) or variable graze1 rest periods were the grazing methods. Variable grazelrest periods were (Continued on next page) Page 29 - 1997 Nebraska Beef Report adjusted to match rotation and plant growth rates: animals generally were moved to the next paddock when one- half of the herbage mass in the medium stocking rate paddocks had disappeared according to visual estimates. A split- plot arrangement was used, with stock- ing rate as whole plots and grazing method as sub-plots. Whole plots were allocated in a completely randomized design with two replications. Pastures were fertilized annually in late May or early June with 80 Ibs Nlacre. Yearling beef steers (620 Ib) grazed corn stalks during winter and smooth broinegrass for 20 to 40 days during spring before starting the trials. Steers were blocked according to size and performance during winter grazing be- fore starting to graze warm-season grasses in early June. Grazing was ter- minated early each year on most con- tinuously stocked pastures when herbage mass dropped below 500 Ibsl acre. Initial and final weights were the average of two weights taken on con- secutive days following a 6-to 10-day feeding of a 50 percent alfalfa hay and 50 percent corn silage diet (DM basis). with intake limited to 2 percent of body weight. Data were analyzed as a split- plot in time with year as the sub-plot. In 1995 (year 3). after grazing warm-sea- son grasses for 30 days. cattle froin all pastures were moved back to smooth broinegrass pastures for 14 days and then retuined to warm-season grasses for the remainder of the summer graz- ing season. This modification permit- 224 Ibslacre). However, it declined froin 250 to 133 Ibslacre as stockin, rate increased from 2.1 to 3.3 steerslacre using continuous stocking (Table 1). The ADG declined linearly across all grazing methods as stocking rate in- creased. The decline was greatest with continuous stocking, which produced both the highest (1.6 Ibs) and lowest (.69 Ibs) ADG among all treatments. Reported gains of steers continuously stocked at 2.7 or 3.3 headlacre probably wereunderestimated due to severe short- Table 1. Gainlacre and merage dailj gains of steers grazing mixed stands ofwarm- season grasses for three )ears in eastern Sebraska. Grazing method Variable rotation ages of forage mass available late in the grazing season. Intermediate full weights (data not shown) taken periodi- cally during years one and two suggest that steers on these pastures lost almost one Iblday during the last 20 days of grazing. Stand basal cover declined after two years of continuous stocking and at the lower stocking rate (Table 2). Rota- tional stocking at higher stocking rates caused no significant changes in over- all basal cover. Lower stand cover at low stocking rates inay have occurred because soine plants were grazed re- peatedly. This repeated grazin, com- bined with competition from adjacent ungrazed plants probably killed soine steerslacre of the grazed plants. 2 1 2 7 3 3 Relative species composition was - - - - - - - affected by stocking rate and grazing Ga~nlacre (Ib) -------- method (Table 3). Big bluestem in- creased compared to other grasses at all 250" 173' stocking rates and also with continuous and fixed rotational stocking. Change 217' 22 1' 227' in species composition of pastures was least when variable rotational stocking 237mY 219' 226' was used and at the medium stocking ---- Alerage dail! gall1 (lb) ---- rate. If lower stand basal cover and less species diversity cause poorer animal Continuo~~s stocking 1.60" 0.69e Fixed rotation 1.3jbc 1 . locd 1.02d Variable rotation 1 .17ab 1 . 1  OCd 0.9Sdr a e n  ' 'Values n ith d~fferent superscripts are d~fferent (P< 05) performance. long-term declines in pro- ductivity inay occur with continuous stocking. Big bluestem and indiangrass changed in relative species composi- tion with each other and with little bluestein and switchgrass, respectively (Table 4). At heavier stockin, rates under the variable stocking method, l o n g e r  rest per iods  for t h e  Table2. Change in basal coTer of a mixed relative species composition of warm-season grasses and used smooth standofnarm-seasonerassesfolloll- indiangrass increased as big bluestem broinegrass residue and regrowth that ing two seasons of grazing in eastern decreased (Table 3). However, con- would have had poor feed value if left Nebraska. tinuous stocking at the medium and unused until after summer warm-sea- Cirazlllg Steerslacre higher stocking rates caused big son grazing was complete. Average method 2 1 2 7 bluestein to replace the other grass spe- daily gain data for 1995 include this cies. bromegrass grazing. ------ Percents, =e unlts ------ The relatively short grazing season Before grazing each year, basal plant (about 70 days) used with these warm- Colltllluous cover and relative species composition stocl,lng -1 8" -2 2b -3 5ah season grasses may have limited the were determined in each pasture using Flwed usefulness of rotational stocking to in- a modified single step-point method -1 7" l c  2C crease animal production. Also, small with over 400 points per pasture. Varlable paddocks used in research prevent fac- rotat1011 -2 2" 1 1~ -0 ;C tors such as distance from water, topog- Results raphy, and shade from influencing I n ~ t ~ a l  basal caber prlor to 1993 grazlng a\ eraged grazing distribution, 7 3%. basal dens~t) prior to 1995 aleraged 5 6% Gain/acre was not affected by c V a l ~ ~ e s \ \ ~ t h  d~tterent superscr~pts are d~fferent Nonetheless, rotational stocking ex- ing rate when rotationally stocked (ave. (p< 05) tended the grazing season when stocli- 1997 Nebrasku Beef Report - Page 30 Table 3. Change in relati~e species composition of f i ~ e  narm-season grass species f o l l o ~ ~ i n g  t \ ~ o  ingrate was relatively high and it main- seasons of grazing in eastern Nebrasha. tained comparatively higher ADG and Sideoats L~ttle gainlacre than continuous stocking as Grazing Big bluestem S\\~tchgrass Ind~angrass grama bl~lestem stocking rate increased. In addition, continuous stocking caused greater ..................................... Percentage Ilnlts .................................... changes in botanical composition. which Grazing method Co~ltinuous +20.1Ja +1.30" -14 .70~  -2.1 4"' -4.58' Rotation Fixed +18.0ia +0.02" -7.40C -2.62'' -8.04' Variable -0.61ab -3.Ojh + 3.86a +0.80ab -1 .OOab a ' d ~ a l u e ~  n  thin a roT\ n ~ t h  d~fferent superscripts are d~fferent (P< 05) Table 4. Partial correlation coefficients relating relathe species composition of fi\e narm-season grass species f o l l o ~ ~ i n g  &TO seasons of grazing in eastern Nebraska. Blg L~ttle S~deoats bluestem I~ldia~lgrass bluestem grama Sn-itchgrass 0.05 -0.47" 0.22 -0.01 Big bluestem -0,got t  -0, j g t t  -0.02 lndiangrass 0.21 -0.24 Little blueste~ll -0.31 may affect long-term production. Graz- ing will continue at least two more years to tiy and document the impor- tance of these changes. Rest periods in this study were too short (< 30 days) for warm-season grasses to recover from grazing, even when growing rapidly. Observations suggest that 40 to 45 days are needed. As this study continues during the next two years, a brief mid-summer grazing (14 to 21 days) of smooth broinegrass will be used to provide more recoveiy time for grazed plants and to utilize smooth bromegrass more effectively in the grazing system. 'Bruce Anderson. Professor. Mihe Trammell. research technolog~st Agronom) Lincoln Terr) Klopfe~lste~~l Professor An~~llalScience.Lincol~l ? ** Significant at 0.05 and 0.01. respectilel) Cover Crops in Crop/Livestock Production Systems Gary Lesoing Terry Klopfenstein Martin Williams David Mortensen D. J. Jordan'.' Cover crops may provide a spring forage source for beef pro- ducers. Early spring grazing may reduce the need for harvested or purchased feed and reduce labor costs. Summary The zlse of cover crops in integrated crop/lh.estock production systenzs I~>U,Y e~.aluated. Spring small grains over seeded into soybeans in late sunzmer provided cover, bzlt not szlfjicient for- age follfall grazing. Winter snzall grains over seeded into soybeans nzre  estab- lished in late sunzmer u.ith szficient rainfall or irrigation, but Ii.ere suscep- tible to 11,interkill. Rye 11.a~ the most prodzlctive and u.inter hardj; produc- ing 2.25 tons/acre of drj. mutter in the spring. Rye no-till d/*illed follo~t~ing corn silage prodztction provided win- ter cover and an average qf ht,o tons/ acre qf spring drj' nllutter prodzlction. Rye ~ t u s  tocked at 1.1 heud/acre ,for one nzonth dztring t/7e spring. Introduction Cover crops have the potential for several uses in integrated crop and live- stock production systems. Cover crops can provide early spring grazing for beef producers. This may reduce the need for harvested or purchased protein and energy feeds, and decrease labor costs. While cover crops may poten- tially benefit the beef producer. the influence on subsequent crop produc- tion is uncertain. Cover crops may also be used for hay, erosion control, as a source of nitrogen for subsequent cereal crops, as scavenger crops to remove excess nitrogen from the soil profile, and as weed suppressants. Experiments at the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research and Development Center's Integrated Farm investigated cover crops for these pur- poses and their effect on subsequent crop production. (Continued on next page) Page 3 1 - 1997 Nebraska Beef Report 

Continuous vs Rotational Stocking of Warm-Season Grasses at Three Stocking Rates

UNL | Libraries

University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department 
January 1997 
Continuous vs Rotational Stocking of Warm-Season Grasses at 
Three Stocking Rates 
Bruce Anderson 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, banderson1@unl.edu 
Mike Trammell 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
Terry J. Klopfenstein 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, tklopfenstein1@unl.edu 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr 
 Part of the Animal Sciences Commons 
Anderson, Bruce; Trammell, Mike; and Klopfenstein, Terry J., "Continuous vs Rotational Stocking of Warm-
Season Grasses at Three Stocking Rates" (1997). Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 428. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/428 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Beef Cattle 
Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
Table 3. hlachine harvested ~ i e l d s  for grazed and unerazed areas and residual corn estimates. 
Y~eld. butacre Residual com. butacre 
Year GRa UGF1 GCa UGC" Con\ ent~onal R~dge-t~l l  
fall following grazing in the previous 
year. Yields for both grazed and 
ungrazed areas were variable froin year 
to year showing no definitive trends. 
Residual corn estimates were different 
(P < .05) only in 1993. the same year in 
which a difference was found in cattle 
. . . .  . . galns lndlcating that gains are some- 
aGR=grazedridge-till.UGR=u~~grazedridge-t~ll.GC=grazedcon~ent~o~~al UGC=ungrazedcon\entional what dependent on residual corn. ln  
b C ~ e a n ~  \\~tIiln a r o u  \ \ ~ t h  unlllte superscripts d~ffer  (P  < 05)  1994 and 1995. residual corn estimates 
were much closer as were cattle gains. 
frozen ground and little mud. This trial Table 3 shows machine harvested 
also showed a difference in residual yields and residual corn estimates bro- ID I Jordon g r a d ~ ~ a t e  student. Terr) 
Klopfe~ls te~~l  Professor MarkK1emesrud.research 
cornestimateswhichpartiallyaccounted lien down by year. No residual corn Anlmalsclence Llncoln.Gar) Lesolng 
for the increased gains seen in the ridge- samples were collected before the 1992- ResearchAsslstantProfessor.Centerfor Sustalllable 
till fields. 1993 trial. Yields were measured in the Asrlcultural %stems Lincoln 
....................................... 
Continuous vs Rotational Stocking of Warm- 
Season Grasses at Three Stocking Rates 
Bruce Anderson 
Mike Trammel1 
Terry Klopfenstein' 
Continuous stocking changes 
species composition ofgrass stands 
and may affect long-term produc- 
tivity. Rotational stocking length- 
ens the grazing season but may not 
increase total gains. 
Summary 
Pastures containing big and Iittle 
bluestem, indiangrass, sideoats gramu, 
and s~t~itchgrass nzre  stocked 11,ith 2.1, 
2.7, and 3.3 yearling steers/acre j?om 
Jzlne to Azlgzat. Continuous stocking 
and six-puddock rotations were used. 
Grazing ternzinated earlj~ on n7ost con- 
tinuoztslj~ stocked pastures due to low 
herbage nzuss. As stocking rute in- 
creased, ADG declined; continztozts 
stockingprodzlced highest (1.6 lbs) and 
lo~t,est (. 69 16s) ADG. Gai17/ucre ~ v u s  
ztnufected bjl stocking rate ztsing rota- 
tional stocking (224 Ibs/ucre) but de- 
clined ,fi.o7?7 2250 to 133 lbs/ucre as 
stocking rute increased ztsing continu- 
ozls stocking. Continztozts stocking 
caused big bluestem to replace Iittle 
bluestem and indiangrass and caz~sed a
slight decrease in stands. 
Introduction 
Many studies have shown that graz- 
ing systems including warm-season 
grass pastures are more productive than 
grazing only cool-season grasses. In 
addition, numerous reports extol the 
benefits of rotational stocliing, but re- 
search comparisons rarely have found 
large differences in animal gains be- 
tween continuous and rotational stocli- 
ing. Stocking rate is the most important 
controllable factor influencing animal 
and pasture performance, regardless of 
the grass grazed. Despite their impor- 
tance, few studies have evaluated either 
stocking rate or grazing methods of 
warm-season grasses. 
Stocking rate and grazing methods 
influence animal and pasture perfor- 
mance several ways. Gain per animal 
remains constant at stocking rates be- 
low a critical level and decrease above 
that level. Gain per acre increases with 
stocking rate until gain per animal be- 
comes so low that gain per acre declines 
rapidly with further increases in stock- 
ing rate. Plant species differ in their 
response to grazing so botanical com- 
position may change under various 
stocking rates and combinations ofgraz- 
ing and rest. 
This study examined botanical 
changes in mixed stands of wann-sea- 
son grasses and measured yearling cattle 
gains as influenced by continuous or 
rotational stocking at three stocking 
rates. 
Procedure 
Eighteen seeded pastures con- 
taining a mixture of big bluestem 
(Andropogon gerardli). indiangrass 
(Sorghastrunz nutans). sideoats grama 
(Boutelozla czlrtlpendzda). little blue- 
stein (Schirachj~r ium scoparlunl), 
and switchgrass (Panlcunz vlrgatz~n~) 
were grazed at the Agricultural 
Research and Development Center 
near Ithaca, NE during 1993-1995. 
Pastures contained about 3.3 acres 
and were grazed as a 3 x 3 factorial with 
2.1, 2.7, and 3.3 yearling steers per 
acre. Continuous stocliing and six-pad- 
dock rotations with either fixed (5-day 
graze, 25-day rest) or variable graze1 
rest periods were the grazing methods. 
Variable grazelrest periods were 
(Continued on next page) 
Page 29 - 1997 Nebraska Beef Report 
adjusted to match rotation and plant 
growth rates: animals generally were 
moved to the next paddock when one- 
half of the herbage mass in the medium 
stocking rate paddocks had disappeared 
according to visual estimates. A split- 
plot arrangement was used, with stock- 
ing rate as whole plots and grazing 
method as sub-plots. Whole plots were 
allocated in a completely randomized 
design with two replications. Pastures 
were fertilized annually in late May or 
early June with 80 Ibs Nlacre. 
Yearling beef steers (620 Ib) grazed 
corn stalks during winter and smooth 
broinegrass for 20 to 40 days during 
spring before starting the trials. Steers 
were blocked according to size and 
performance during winter grazing be- 
fore starting to graze warm-season 
grasses in early June. Grazing was ter- 
minated early each year on most con- 
tinuously stocked pastures when 
herbage mass dropped below 500 Ibsl 
acre. Initial and final weights were the 
average of two weights taken on con- 
secutive days following a 6-to 10-day 
feeding of a 50 percent alfalfa hay and 
50 percent corn silage diet (DM basis). 
with intake limited to 2 percent of body 
weight. Data were analyzed as a split- 
plot in time with year as the sub-plot. In 
1995 (year 3). after grazing warm-sea- 
son grasses for 30 days. cattle froin all 
pastures were moved back to smooth 
broinegrass pastures for 14 days and 
then retuined to warm-season grasses 
for the remainder of the summer graz- 
ing season. This modification permit- 
224 Ibslacre). However, it declined froin 
250 to 133 Ibslacre as stockin, rate 
increased from 2.1 to 3.3 steerslacre 
using continuous stocking (Table 1). 
The ADG declined linearly across all 
grazing methods as stocking rate in- 
creased. The decline was greatest with 
continuous stocking, which produced 
both the highest (1.6 Ibs) and lowest 
(.69 Ibs) ADG among all treatments. 
Reported gains of steers continuously 
stocked at 2.7 or 3.3 headlacre probably 
wereunderestimated due to severe short- 
Table 1. Gainlacre and merage dailj gains of 
steers grazing mixed stands ofwarm- 
season grasses for three )ears in 
eastern Sebraska. 
Grazing 
method 
Variable 
rotation 
ages of forage mass available late in the 
grazing season. Intermediate full 
weights (data not shown) taken periodi- 
cally during years one and two suggest 
that steers on these pastures lost almost 
one Iblday during the last 20 days of 
grazing. 
Stand basal cover declined after two 
years of continuous stocking and at the 
lower stocking rate (Table 2). Rota- 
tional stocking at higher stocking rates 
caused no significant changes in over- 
all basal cover. Lower stand cover at 
low stocking rates inay have occurred 
because soine plants were grazed re- 
peatedly. This repeated grazin, com- 
bined with competition from adjacent 
ungrazed plants probably killed soine 
steerslacre of the grazed plants. 
2 1 2 7 3 3 Relative species composition was 
- - - - - - - 
affected by stocking rate and grazing 
Ga~nlacre (Ib) -------- 
method (Table 3). Big bluestem in- 
creased compared to other grasses at all 
250" 173' stocking rates and also with continuous 
and fixed rotational stocking. Change 
217' 22 1' 227' in species composition of pastures was 
least when variable rotational stocking 
237mY 219' 226' was used and at the medium stocking 
---- Alerage dail! gall1 (lb) ---- rate. If lower stand basal cover and less 
species diversity cause poorer animal 
Continuo~~s 
stocking 1.60" 0.69e 
Fixed 
rotation 1.3jbc 1 . locd 1.02d 
Variable 
rotation 1 .17ab 1 . 1  OCd 0.9Sdr 
a e n  ' 'Values n ith d~fferent superscripts 
are d~fferent (P< 05) 
performance. long-term declines in pro- 
ductivity inay occur with continuous 
stocking. 
Big bluestem and indiangrass 
changed in relative species composi- 
tion with each other and with little 
bluestein and switchgrass, respectively 
(Table 4). At heavier stockin, rates 
under the variable stocking method, 
l o n g e r  rest per iods  for t h e  Table2. Change in basal coTer of a mixed relative species composition of 
warm-season grasses and used smooth standofnarm-seasonerassesfolloll- indiangrass increased as big bluestem 
broinegrass residue and regrowth that ing two seasons of grazing in eastern decreased (Table 3). However, con- 
would have had poor feed value if left Nebraska. tinuous stocking at the medium and 
unused until after summer warm-sea- Cirazlllg Steerslacre higher stocking rates caused big 
son grazing was complete. Average method 2 1 2 7 bluestein to replace the other grass spe- 
daily gain data for 1995 include this cies. 
bromegrass grazing. ------ Percents, =e unlts ------ The relatively short grazing season 
Before grazing each year, basal plant (about 70 days) used with these warm- 
Colltllluous 
cover and relative species composition stocl,lng -1 8" -2 2b -3 5ah season grasses may have limited the 
were determined in each pasture using Flwed usefulness of rotational stocking to in- 
a modified single step-point method -1 7" l c  2C crease animal production. Also, small 
with over 400 points per pasture. Varlable paddocks used in research prevent fac- 
rotat1011 -2 2" 1 1~ -0 ;C tors such as distance from water, topog- 
Results raphy, and shade from influencing 
I n ~ t ~ a l  basal caber prlor to 1993 grazlng a\ eraged grazing distribution, 
7 3%. basal dens~t) prior to 1995 aleraged 5 6% Gain/acre was not affected by 
c V a l ~ ~ e s \ \ ~ t h  d~tterent superscr~pts are d~fferent Nonetheless, rotational stocking ex- 
ing rate when rotationally stocked (ave. (p< 05) tended the grazing season when stocli- 
1997 Nebrasku Beef Report - Page 30 
Table 3. Change in relati~e species composition of f i ~ e  narm-season grass species f o l l o ~ ~ i n g  t \ ~ o  ingrate was relatively high and it main- 
seasons of grazing in eastern Nebrasha. tained comparatively higher ADG and 
Sideoats L~ttle gainlacre than continuous stocking as 
Grazing Big bluestem S\\~tchgrass Ind~angrass grama bl~lestem stocking rate increased. In addition, 
continuous stocking caused greater 
..................................... Percentage Ilnlts .................................... 
changes in botanical composition. which 
Grazing method 
Co~ltinuous +20.1Ja +1.30" -14 .70~  -2.1 4"' -4.58' 
Rotation 
Fixed +18.0ia +0.02" -7.40C -2.62'' -8.04' 
Variable -0.61ab -3.Ojh + 3.86a +0.80ab -1 .OOab 
a 
' d ~ a l u e ~  n  thin a roT\ n ~ t h  d~fferent superscripts are d~fferent (P< 05) 
Table 4. Partial correlation coefficients relating relathe species composition of fi\e narm-season 
grass species f o l l o ~ ~ i n g  &TO seasons of grazing in eastern Nebraska. 
Blg L~ttle S~deoats 
bluestem I~ldia~lgrass bluestem grama 
Sn-itchgrass 0.05 -0.47" 0.22 -0.01 
Big bluestem -0,got t  -0, j g t t  -0.02 
lndiangrass 0.21 -0.24 
Little blueste~ll -0.31 
may affect long-term production. Graz- 
ing will continue at least two more 
years to tiy and document the impor- 
tance of these changes. 
Rest periods in this study were too 
short (< 30 days) for warm-season 
grasses to recover from grazing, even 
when growing rapidly. Observations 
suggest that 40 to 45 days are needed. 
As this study continues during the next 
two years, a brief mid-summer grazing 
(14 to 21 days) of smooth broinegrass 
will be used to provide more recoveiy 
time for grazed plants and to utilize 
smooth bromegrass more effectively in 
the grazing system. 
'Bruce Anderson. Professor. Mihe Trammell. 
research technolog~st Agronom) Lincoln Terr) 
Klopfe~lste~~l Professor An~~llalScience.Lincol~l 
? ** Significant at 0.05 and 0.01. respectilel) 
Cover Crops in Crop/Livestock 
Production Systems 
Gary Lesoing 
Terry Klopfenstein 
Martin Williams 
David Mortensen 
D. J. Jordan'.' 
Cover crops may provide a 
spring forage source for beef pro- 
ducers. Early spring grazing may 
reduce the need for harvested or 
purchased feed and reduce labor 
costs. 
Summary 
The zlse of cover crops in integrated 
crop/lh.estock production systenzs I~>U,Y 
e~.aluated. Spring small grains over 
seeded into soybeans in late sunzmer 
provided cover, bzlt not szlfjicient for- 
age follfall grazing. Winter snzall grains 
over seeded into soybeans nzre  estab- 
lished in late sunzmer u.ith szficient 
rainfall or irrigation, but Ii.ere suscep- 
tible to 11,interkill. Rye 11.a~ the most 
prodzlctive and u.inter hardj; produc- 
ing 2.25 tons/acre of drj. mutter in the 
spring. Rye no-till d/*illed follo~t~ing 
corn silage prodztction provided win- 
ter cover and an average qf ht,o tons/ 
acre qf spring drj' nllutter prodzlction. 
Rye ~ t u s  tocked at 1.1 heud/acre ,for 
one nzonth dztring t/7e spring. 
Introduction 
Cover crops have the potential for 
several uses in integrated crop and live- 
stock production systems. Cover crops 
can provide early spring grazing for 
beef producers. This may reduce the 
need for harvested or purchased protein 
and energy feeds, and decrease labor 
costs. While cover crops may poten- 
tially benefit the beef producer. the 
influence on subsequent crop produc- 
tion is uncertain. Cover crops may also 
be used for hay, erosion control, as a 
source of nitrogen for subsequent 
cereal crops, as scavenger crops to 
remove excess nitrogen from the soil 
profile, and as weed suppressants. 
Experiments at the University of 
Nebraska Agricultural Research and 
Development Center's Integrated Farm 
investigated cover crops for these pur- 
poses and their effect on subsequent 
crop production. 
(Continued on next page) 
Page 3 1 - 1997 Nebraska Beef Report 


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