Grazing distribution and utilization in warm-season pastures at four stocking densities

TL;DRAbstract

The relationship between stocking density and grazing distribution was studied in eastern Nebraska in pastures seeded with a warm-season, tall grass mixture and grazed at 4 stocking densities: 9, 18, 27 and 54 steers ha$\sp{-1}.$ Each of 4 grazing units was divided into 4 paddocks ranging in size from 0.186 to 1.12 ha using a nested paddock design. Nested paddocks within each grazing unit were grazed rotationally, during 3 consecutive cycles (12, 36, and 24 days), by 10 steers averaging 282 kg for 72 days from early June to late August in 1995 and 1996. Transects (8 to 17) 12-m long were established in a grid pattern in each paddock. Six tillers each of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) were permanently marked in each transect; height and leaf length of tillers in each paddock were measured before and after grazing in the last 2 grazing cycles in both years. Estimations of grazing distribution were based on a uniformity index, which was cal

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