Vegetation Response to Continuation versus Short Duration Grazing on Sandy Rangeland

Abstract

This 8-year study compared the response of rangeland vegetation under continuous grazing vs. short duration grazing management systems. The study was conducted on a native rangeland site with a sandy soil in the Texas Rolling Plains. Yearling steers grazed the continuous grazing and short duration grazing paddocks at approximately the same stocking rate so that the study's comparison between grazing systems was not confounded by stocking rate. The continuous grazing treatment averaged 25.5 steer days acre-year while the short duration grazing treatments averaged 27.0 steer days acre-year. The sbort duration grazing treatments varied during the 8-year study, ranging from 4- to 36-paddock rotations. Plant species composition and forage production were monitored in all treatment paddocks. Over the entire 8-year study period, no significant changes in plant species composition or forage production were detected between continuous grazing and short duration grazing treatments.