Livestock response to multispecies and deferred-rotation grazing on forested rangeland

Performance of cow-calf (Bos taurus) and ewe-lamb (Ovisaries) units was compared under multispecies versus single-species grazing and deferred-rotation versus continuous stocking during a 10-year grazing trial. Treatments were arranged in a 3 species (cattle, sheep, or both species) by 2 grazing method (deferred rotation or continuous) factorial using a randomized-complete block design with 2 blocks. All animals were individually weighed at initiation, mid-point, and termination of each grazing season. Livestock species and grazing method did not interact for any dependent variable (P>0.05). Average daily gain (ADG) was greater (P0.05) by animal species mixture. Production of progeny (gain of calves and lambs) and total production (gain of progeny and dams) per ha was greater (P<0.05) using sheep or mixed species than cattle (17.8, 17.8, and 11.2 kg ha-1 respectively, for progeny, and 22.4, 24.5, and 17.6 kg ha-1 respectively, for total). Calves grew faster (P<0.05) under continuous than deferred-rotation grazing (1.04 vs 1.01 kg day-1). Ewes gained more rapidly (P