A 4-year study was conducted on Cross Timbers range in north-central Oklahoma. Conventional seasonlong grazing (SLS) of stocker cattle was compared to intensive-early season stocking (IES). Stocking density was increased 2-fold on the IES system but stocking rate was the same relative to SLS. Grazing treatments were applied in a manner that allowed each pasture to be grazed under each management system. Midseason standing crop of grazed residue was lower under IES but there was no difference in end-of-season standing crop. In July, tallgrass residue and forb residue were lower on IES pastures while residue of little bluestem and other grasses was not affected by grazing treatment. End-of-season standing crop of tallgrass residue was similar because of late-season regrowth under IES and continued defoliation under SLS. Distribution of utilization was not improved by IES. Cattle gains (kg/head) during the early-season were similar for both grazing programs. Total beef production was increased 19% by IES as a result of increased stocking density. Our results indicate that IES can be utilized to improve cattle production from Cross Timbers ranges. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.