scholarly journals Sows-Gilts Stocking Rates and Their Environmental Impact in Rotationally Managed Bermudagrass Paddocks

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvana Pietrosemoli ◽  
James T. Green ◽  
Maria Jesús Villamide
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Swine Production ◽  
Stocking Rates

Ground cover maintenance and nutrients management are key elements to reduce the environmental impact of outdoor swine production. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of sows-gilts stocking rates on vegetative ground cover and soil nutrient concentrations in rotationally stocked bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers) pastures. Three stocking rates (10, 15 and 25 sows-gilts ha−1) were compared during three 8-week grazing periods. Increasing the stocking rate from 10 to 25 sows-gilts ha−1 decreased the ground cover of the paddocks from 65 to 48%, and increased soil nutrient concentrations (ammonium 47%; nitrate 129%; phosphorus 53%; zinc 84%; and copper 29%).

scholarly journals Effects of Growing-Finishing Pig Stocking Rates on Bermudagrass Ground Cover and Soil Properties

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1666
Author(s):  
Silvana Pietrosemoli ◽  
Charles Raczkowski ◽  
James T. Green ◽  
Maria Jesús Villamide
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Finishing Pigs ◽  
Finishing Pig ◽  
Stocking Rates

This study compares four stocking rates (37, 74, 111 and 148 pigs ha−1) for growing to finishing pigs (18.4 ± 0.5 kg and 118.5 ± 2.0 kg and 35.7 ± 2.1 kg and 125.7 ± 2.3 kg initial and final BW for grazing periods 1 and 2, respectively) and their effect on ground cover and soil traits in bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers) pastures, over two 14-week grazing periods (July–September and May–August). The study was conducted at the Center for Environmental Farming systems at the Cherry Research Station, Goldsboro North Carolina. A continuous stocking method was implemented to manage the pasture. The percent ground cover was estimated with a modified step point technique. Soil samples were collected in three sampling positions (center, inner and outer areas of the paddocks) and two soil sampling depths (0–30 and 30–90 cm). The experimental design was a completely randomized block with three field replicates. Data were analyzed using the PROC GLIMMIX procedure of SAS/STAT ® Version 9.4. Greater ground cover and lesser soil nutrient concentrations were registered in bermudagrass paddocks managed with 37 pigs ha−1. The results of this study also validated the existence of a spatial pattern of soil properties, which differed among sampling positions and depths.

Grazing studies of a Hyparrhenia hirta (Coolatai grass) pasture in northern New South Wales

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1603 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge ◽  
L. H. McCormick ◽  
S. Harden
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Basal Cover ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Heavy Grazing ◽  
Stocking Rates

Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf (Coolatai grass) has invaded large areas of grazed native grasslands on the North-West Slopes of New South Wales (NSW) and is widespread along roadsides and travelling stock routes. It is commonly regarded as an invasive, weedy species with low forage value when it is tall and rank, but may be more palatable when kept short, green and leafy. A study (1990–2001) of a naturalised stand of Coolatai grass in the Manilla district of northern NSW examined its herbage mass (kg DM/ha), persistence (basal cover %), and grazing value under 2 contrasting grazing treatments: pastures that had either large amounts of dry, unpalatable herbage [light grazing at 5 dry sheep equivalents (DSE)/ha] or were short, green and leafy (strategic heavy grazing at a stocking rate of 37 DSE/ha). Effects of pre-grazing treatments (slashing, burning, and no defoliation) were also examined and data (litter mass, plant basal area, ground cover, and soil and litter microbial carbon and nitrogen) collected to assess the long term sustainability of these grazing systems. Sheep grazed the light grazing treatment for about 34% of the experimental period, with the strategic heavy grazing treatment being grazed for about 7% of the time. Over the experimental period this equated to 6752 DSE grazing days/ha for the light grazing treatment compared with 10 120 DSE for the heavy grazing treatment. Herbage mass in the heavy grazing treatment declined to <1000 kg DM/ha within 6 months of the start of grazing and remained below this level until December 1998 when stocking rates were switched (i.e. plots previously grazed at low stocking rate were subjected to the heavier rate and vice versa). In contrast, mean herbage mass in the light grazing treatment was generally >3000 kg DM/ha from November 1990–98, but a high proportion of this was dead standing material that carried over from season to season. Mean Coolatai grass basal cover was 9.5% in November 1990, increasing over time to about 25% in both grazing treatments by December 2000. Coolatai grass herbage accumulation was highly seasonal, ranging from as high as 70 kg DM/ha.day in summer to 0 in winter. In both grazing treatments, forage quality was low for both green and dead material, with mean crude protein being 6.0 (green) and 3.4% (dead). Digestible dry matter values ranged from 41 to 62% (green) and 32 to 51% (dead) and mean metabolisable energy values were 7 (green) and 5.3 MJ/kg DM (dead). After 8 years, the heavy grazing treatment had lower (P<0.05) litter mass, ground cover, plant basal area and soil microbial C and N levels than the light grazing treatment, but switching of the stocking rates restored most indicators, except the soil microbial values.

scholarly journals 264 Using bermudagrass baleage to increase stocking rates of fall wheat pasture

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 91-91
Author(s):  
Paul A Beck ◽  
Caleb P Weiss ◽  
Elizabeth Kegley ◽  
Tom Hess ◽  
Don Hubbell
Keyword(s):  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wheat Seed ◽  
Soft Red Winter Wheat ◽  
No Till ◽  
Wheat Pasture ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Red Winter Wheat

Abstract The objectives of the current research were to determine the effect of offering ad libitum bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) round bale silage on performance and stocking rate of growing steers grazing wheat pasture in northern Arkansas. Eighteen, 1.6-hectare wheat fields were no-till planted to soft-red winter wheat in the first week of September (101 kg wheat seed/ha; cv. Jamestown) and were stocked to growing steers on October 23, 2018 at 2.5 steers/ha without bermudagrass baleage (CONTROL, n = 6) or with ad libitum bermudagrass baleage stocked at 2.5, 3.75, or 5.0 steers/ha (BALE2.5, BALE3.75, and BALE5.0, respectively; n = 4 pastures/treatment). The bermudagrass baleage was harvested in the late summer of 2018 and contained 40%DM, 14.3% CP, 70% NDF, 39% ADF, and 55% calculated TDN. Forage mass was 1,268 kg DM/ha (P ≥ 0.39) at the start of grazing and forage allowance (P &lt; 0.01) was 2.25, 2.20, 1.62, and 1.27 kg forage DM/kg steer BW, respectively, at the start of grazing. Average daily gains of CONTROL (1.40 kg/d) did not differ (P = 0.36) from BALE2.5 (1.34 kg/d), but as stocking rate increased ADG decreased (P &lt; 0.01) to 1.14 kg/d and 0.96 kg/d, for BALE3.75 and BALE5.0, respectively. As observed with ADG, gain per hectare and steer grazing-days per hectare did not differ (P ≥ 0.53) between CONTROL (340 kg/ha and 272 d/ha, respectively) and BALE2.5 (365 kg/ha and 272 d/ha, respectively), but each increased (P &lt; 0.01) with increasing stocking rate, to 408 and 543 grazing d/ha for BALE3.75 and BALE5.0, respectively, and 467 and 524 kg BW gain/ha, respectively. The current research indicates that, even though individual animal performance decreases, stocking rates of wheat pasture for fall grazing stocker calves can be increased two-fold with up to 54% increase in BW gain/ha.

Management of grazing systems

1989 ◽  
pp. 117-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Hodgson
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Alternative Means ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Stocking Rates

Recent assessments of the relative importance of stocking rate. stocking policy and grazing management on the output from pastoral systems are used as a starting point to argue the need for objective pasture assessments to aid control of livestock enterprises to meet production targets. Variations in stocking rates, stocking policy and other management practices all provide alternative means of control of pasture conditions which are the major determinants of pasture and animal performance. Understanding of the influence of pasture conditions on systems performance should provide a better basis for management control and for Communication between farmers, extension officers and researchers. Keywords: Stocking rate, pasture condition, pasture cover

Prediction Results of Different Modeling Methods in Soil Nutrient Concentrations Based on Spectral Technology

2019 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 765-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
X.-Y. Li ◽  
P.-P. Fan ◽  
Y. Liu ◽  
G.-L. Hou ◽  
Q. Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Modeling Methods

scholarly journals 87 Evaluation of two stocking rates for grazing heifers on mixed sward native warm-season grass pastures in the Black Belt Prairie region

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 27-27
Author(s):  
Jane A Parish ◽  
Kalisha C Yankey ◽  
Libby S Durst
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Sorghastrum Nutans ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Little Bluestem ◽  
Year Effect ◽  
Plant Persistence ◽  
Stocking Rates

Abstract Optimal use of native warm-season grasses in pasture systems involves stocking grazing livestock at suitable rates. The study objective was to evaluate forage nutritive value and heifer ADG at two stocking rates on mixed-sward pastures of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi Vitman), little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius), and indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans L.). Pastures (3 replications) were stocked for 56 d during June and July in 2 yr with crossbred (Bos taurus) heifers (n = 24 heifers/year) stratified by initial BW (288.3 ± 1.7 kg) to one of two continuous stocking rates: 1.9 heifers/ha (HIGH) and 1.2 heifers/ha (LOW). Mean forage nutritive values on a DM basis were not different between HIGH and LOW stocking rates, respectively, for CP (7.0 ± 0.2% vs 6.7 ± 0.2%; P = 0.27), ADF (41.0 ± 0.6 vs. 41.4 ± 0.6; P = 0.64), NDF (69.9 ± 0.5 vs. 68.7 ± 0.5; P = 0.09), or relative feed value (RFV) (76.0 ± 1.0 vs. 76.9 ± 1.0; P = 0.53). There was a year effect (P &lt; 0.01) and stocking rate x day effect (P &lt; 0.01) for TDN. At LOW, TDN decreased from day 0 to day 28 (P = 0.02) and day 28 to day 56 (P = 0.02). At HIGH, TDN decreased (P &lt; 0.01) from day 0 to day 28 but remained steady until day 56 (P = 0.21). There was a stocking rate x day interaction (P &lt; 0.01) with ADG: LOW day 28 to 56 (1.20 ± 0.08 kg/day), HIGH day 0 to 28 (0.89 ± 0.08 kg/day), HIGH day 28 to 56 (0.44 ± 0.08 kg/day), and LOW day 0 to 28 (0.30 ± 0.08 kg/day). Further assessment of cattle ADG using more divergent stocking rates and plant persistence measures is warranted to inform ideal native grass stocking rate recommendations.

The intake and production of lactating Merino ewes and their lambs grazed at different stocking rates

1977 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 133 ◽  
Author(s):  
JP Langlands
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Milk Consumption ◽  
Total Organic Matter ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Maintenance Requirement ◽  
Stocking Rates

Grass and milk consumption and liveweight changes of lambs grazed at stocking rates ranging from 9 to 35 sheep/ha were measured during a 105 day lactation. Grass consumption and wool production of their mothers and of similar ewes without lambs were also determined. The forage and total organic matter intakes of the lamb increased with time while milk consumption declined; all three variables were negatively correlated with stocking rate. The intake of the ewe and its liveweight gain were not sensitive to increasing stocking rate, but wool production declined at higher stocking rates. The maintenance requirement of the ewes was estimated to be 218 kJ metabolizable energy/kg liveweight, and the efficiency with which metabolizable energy was utilized for milk production was 66%. Lactation increased the intake of the ewe but reduced its wool production.

scholarly journals Compost as an Option for Sustainable Crop Production at Low Stocking Rates in Organic Farming

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1078
Author(s):  
Christopher Brock ◽  
Meike Oltmanns ◽  
Christoph Matthes ◽  
Ben Schmehe ◽  
Harald Schaaf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Potassium Sulfate ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Internal Resources ◽  
Compost Application ◽  
Stocking Rates

Mixed-crop-livestock farms offer the best conditions for sustainable nutrient management in organic farming. However, if stocking rates are too low, sustainability might be threatened. Therefore, we studied the development of soil organic matter and nutrients as well as crop yields over the first course of a new long-term field experiment with a mimicked cattle stocking rate of 0.6 LU ha−1, which is the actual average stocking rate for organic farms in Germany. In the experiment, we tested the effects of additional compost application to improve organic matter supply to soils, and further, potassium sulfate fertilization for an improved nutrition of fodder legumes. Compost was made from internal resources of the farm (woody material from hedge-cutting). Soil organic matter and nutrient stocks decreased in the control treatment, even though yield levels, and thus nutrient exports, were comparably low. With compost application, soil organic matter and nutrient exports could be compensated for. At the same time, the yields increased but stayed at a moderate level. Potassium sulfate fertilization further improved N yields. We conclude that compost from internal resources is a viable solution to facilitate sustainable organic crop production at low stocking rates. However, we are aware that this option does not solve the basic problem of open nutrient cycles on the farm gate level.

Common Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) Interference in Newly Planted Peach (Prunus persica) Trees

Weed Science ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen C. Weller ◽  
Walter A. Skroch ◽  
Thomas J. Monaco
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Prunus Persica ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
First Year ◽  
Allelopathic Effect ◽  
Trunk Diameter ◽  
Leaf Chlorophyll ◽  
Tree Leaf ◽  
Common Bermudagrass

Field experiments conducted over a 2-yr period demonstrated that common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. # CYNDA] inhibited growth of newly planted peach (Prunus persica L. ‘Norman’) trees. Common bermudagrass densities of 100, 75, 50, and 25% ground cover reduced tree fresh weight by 86, 64, 43, and 19%, respectively, the first year (1978) and 87, 62, 44, and 28%, respectively, the second year (1979) after planting. Tree trunk diameter relative growth rate (RGR) was reduced by 75 and 100% common bermudagrass ground cover densities at all measurement dates only in 1978. Tree leaf N and K were reduced in both years by common bermudagrass; however, only at the 100% common bermudagrass density in 1978 was N at a deficient level. Leaf chlorophyll was reduced in trees grown in all densities of common bermudagrass only in 1978. Reduced tree growth cannot be explained entirely by competition for essential nutrients; thus an allelopathic effect of the bermudagrass on young peach roots is suspected.

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