Research Articles
Grazing Method Effect on Topographical Vegetation Characteristics and Livestock Performance in the Nebraska Sandhills

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Abstract

A study was conducted on upland range in the Nebraska Sandhills to determine differences in plant species frequency of occurrence and standing crop at various topographic positions on pastures grazed with short-duration grazing (SDG) and deferred-rotation grazing (DRG). Pastures within each grazing treatment were grazed at comparable stocking rates (SDG = 1.84 animal unit months (AUM) · ha−1; DRG = 1.94 AUM · ha−1) by cow–calf pairs from 1999 to 2005 and cow–calf pairs and spayed heifers from 2006 to 2008. Plant frequency of occurrence data were collected from permanently marked transects prior to, midway through, and at the conclusion of the study (1998, 2003, and 2008, respectively) and standing crop data were collected annually from 2001 to 2008 at four topographic positions (dune top, interdune, north slope, and south slope). Livestock performance data were collected during the last 3 yr of the study (2006 to 2008). Positive change in frequency of occurrence of prairie sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia [Hook.] Scribn.) was 42% greater on DRG pastures than SDG after 10 yr. Total live standing crop did not differ between DRG and SDG except in 2001 when standing crop was 23% greater on DRG pastures. Standing crop of forbs and sedge was variable between grazing methods on interdune topographic positions depending on year. Average daily gain of spayed heifers (0.84 ±  kg · d−1 SE) did not differ between SDG and DRG. Overall, SDG was not superior to a less intensively managed grazing method (i.e., DRG) in terms of vegetation characteristics and livestock performance.

Section snippets

INTRODUCTION

Range scientists have studied short-duration grazing (SDG) on many grazing lands to quantify its value to rangeland vegetation and livestock performance (Hart et al. 1988; White et al. 1991; Taylor et al. 1993; Manley et al. 1997; McCollum et al. 1999; Derner and Hart 2007) since Allan Savory reported on it in the 1970s. Early reports on SDG (Savory and Parsons 1980; Savory 1983; Savory 1999) claimed increased carrying capacity while increasing or maintaining desirable plant species

Study Site

Research was conducted at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Barta Brothers Ranch in the eastern Nebraska Sandhills (lat 42°13′32″N, long 99°38′09″W; elevation = 765 m). Climate is typical of a midcontinental prairie region located within the transition zone between semiarid and subhumid climates. January temperatures average -6.8°C and July temperatures average 22.5°C. The long-term average annual precipitation is 576 ± 20 mm SE with approximately 76% of the annual precipitation occurring from

Precipitation Data

Mean annual precipitation during the study period (518 mm) was below the long-term average (576 mm), especially during the first 5 yr of the study (Fig. 2). Mean annual precipitation during the first 5-yr period of the study (454 mm; 1999 to 2003) was 21% below the long-term average, whereas mean precipitation during the second 5-yr period (582 mm; 2004 to 2008) was near the average. Growing-season precipitation (April through September) was 21% below the long-term average during the first 5-yr

Change in Frequency of Occurrence

Frequency of occurrence of native mid- and tall grasses increased or did not change on both SDG and DRG pastures over the 10 yr of the study. Considering that the pastures were in good to excellent range condition at the beginning of the study, neither grazing method appeared to negatively affect range condition. Additionally, there was a decrease in frequency of occurrence of plant species (e.g., western ragweed) that typically thrive when the prevalence of dominant grass species is reduced (

MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

Multiple grazing periods associated with SDG are commonly reported anecdotally as a means to improve yearling cattle performance and vegetation response, but many experimental examinations of SDG compared to other rotational grazing methods and continuous grazing have not validated these reports (Briske et al. 2008). Results of our study also indicate that SDG was not a superior method of grazing when compared to the less intensively managed DRG in terms of improved livestock performance,

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  • Cited by (12)

    • Influence of Precipitation on Plant Production at Different Topographic Positions in the Nebraska Sandhills

      2019, Rangeland Ecology and Management
      Citation Excerpt :

      Before the beginning of the study in 2000, cattle had grazed continuously at moderate stocking rates during the growing season from about mid-May to mid-October. From 2001 to 2008, cattle were managed within a four-pasture deferred rotation or an eight-pasture short-duration grazing rotation during the growing season for a study evaluating differences in plant production and species composition between these grazing methods (Stephenson et al., 2013). Study pastures were grazed at moderate stocking rates (i.e., 1.8 − 1.9 animal unit months (AUM) ∙ ha− 1).

    • Grazing Systems Do Not Affect Bird Habitat on a Sandhills Landscape

      2019, Rangeland Ecology and Management
      Citation Excerpt :

      Thus, it is impossible to recommend a single management characteristic that will be most important for managing grassland songbird habitat. Our results agree with a number of studies that found few differences among grazing systems in terms of vegetation composition and structure, or bird abundance (Briske et al., 2008; Vermeire et al., 2008; Stephenson et al., 2013; Davis et al., 2014). Some authors have even suggested that grazing systems used by private landowners result in habitat homogeneity (Adler et al., 2001; Toombs et al., 2010; Fuhlendorf et al., 2012).

    • Time of grazing effect on subsequent-year standing crop in the Eastern Nebraska Sandhills

      2015, Rangeland Ecology and Management
      Citation Excerpt :

      Reece et al. (1996) indicated that periodic deferment of grazing until mid-August may be required to maintain reserves of warm-season tallgrasses in the Nebraska Sandhills. Stephenson et al. (2013) found that standing crop and frequency of warm- and cool-season graminoids were maintained or increased on the study pastures used within the current study when managed within a four-pasture deferred rotation for 10 yr. Although much research has indicated that rotational grazing methods provide little added benefit to vegetation characteristics compared with continuous grazing (Briske et al., 2008), annually rotating timing of grazing of pastures within a deferred rotation may minimize the potential negative impact of grazing on specific functional groups at critical times during the growing season.

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    Research was a contribution of the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research Division, supported in part by funds provided through the Hatch Act and the University of Nebraska Foundation.

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