Steer performance and nutritive values for continuously and rotationally stocked bermudagrass sod-seeded with wheat and ryegrass

Considerable research has been conducted comparing animal and plant responses between rotational and continuous stocking, but more studies are needed to evaluate intensive, multi-paddock rotational stocking for managing forages in the southeastern USA. A 2-yr study was conducted with bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] pastures that were drill-planted with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) to compare steer performance and forage nutritive values between continuous stocking, 3-paddock low-intensity and 11-paddock high-intensity rotational stocking systems for both the cool-season annuals and warm-season perennial. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and crude protein (CP) were similar (P 0.10) between continuous stocking and averages of pregraze, midgraze, and postgraze sample times for both rotation systems. There were decreases (P 0.05) of IVDMD over sample times within grazing periods for both rotation systems. Declines in IVDMD during the cool season (P 0.001) occurred between midgraze and postgraze sample times while decreases during the warm season (P 0.10) were detected throughout the grazing period. A distinct reduction in CP (P 0.10) during grazing periods was observed only for the cool season in 1994. Average daily gain was not affected (P 0.10) by the grazing treatments in either season. Higher stocking rates were achieved (P 0.01) with rotational stocking than with continuous stocking during the cool season, but not (P 0.10) during the warm season. Thus, there was higher (P 0.05) liveweight gain per acre with rotational stocking during the cool season, but not (P 0.10) during the warm season. Results of the study indicate that rotational stocking can enhance steer liveweight gain per acre because of increased stocking rate on wheat-ryegrass, but not on bermudagrass. Also, the more intensive 11-paddock system was not more productive than the 3-paddock system in either season