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Superintendent
David Davis
21262 Genoa Road
Linneus, MO 64653
Phone: 660 895-5121
FAX: 660 895=5122
Email: DavisDK@missouri.edu

Synopsis

Synopsis for 2000: Following the severe drought of 1999, a fifth year of grazing was added to the project protocol to measure pasture recovery in what would hopefully be a more normal year. The year 2000 began with continuation of the drought, but in late May rain began falling and June through August experienced slightly above normal rainfall and pasture conditions were reasonably good for the remainder of the season for most treatments. Continuously grazed pastures at the highest stocking rate did not fully recover from the spring drought and cattle had to be removed from one replication in late July due to weight loss in two successive weigh periods.

Steer performance at the three lower stocking rates was similar to previous years but was significantly lower than the four-year mean at the highest stocking rate. Stocking rate continued to have a significant effect on steer performance while grazing method was significant only at the highest stocking rate, with rotationally grazed cattle gaining more rapidly than continuously grazed cattle. Because of the removal of the one group of cattle from the continuously grazed-high stocking rate pasture, gain per acre was significantly greater for rotational grazing at the highest stocking rate in 2000. Otherwise stocking rate had a significant effect while grazing method did not.

Rotational grazing in 2000 resulted in higher green forage availability with less dead material accumulation than continuous grazing at all stocking rates. Differences in green forage availability became more pronounced as the summer progressed. Fall regrowth was also significantly greater for rotational grazing at all stocking rates while stocking rate effect was also significant.

Legume content which had declined dramatically in 1999 due to the extremely dry conditions rebounded in 2000 in almost all pastures. Legume content at the end of 2000 was significantly greater in rotationally grazed pastures at all stocking rates compared to continuous grazing.

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