Animal and Forage Response to Short-Duration Rotational Grazing

It has recently been suggested that the use of a short-duration rotational grazing (SDG) system can significantly increase total beef production on rangelands. The periodic intense grazing pressure of the SDG system is assumed to retard maturation of the forage and stimulate forage growth. This combination of immature, high quality forage and greater total forage production should allow higher stocking rates and/or improved animal performance. Such a system may be of greater utility with improved pastures planted to forages possessing a greater genetic potential for growth. This study was designed to determine the animal and forage responses to SDG on a cool-season improved pasture compared with a traditional continuous grazing management system