A continuous grazing system (CG) was compared to a 15-pasture (2-3 days each), cartwheel pattern, rotational grazing system (RG) in two adjacent, fair condition pastures, of approximately 36% open grassland in post oak (Quercus stellata) woodland, and stocked at 0.2 animal units/year (50% more then the recommended level). Average standing crop was similar between CG and RG, although there was a cycle by system interaction such that standing crop in RG was not able to recover in late summer and autumn to the same levels of CG. Grazing events (occurrence and time spent) in observation areas were higher in RG than in CG, especially in days 1-2, indicating a more uniform use of pastures in RG. However, the decline in grazing events in CG increased with season progression because cows were able to shift towards browsing in woods to compensate for the decline in grasses, something they were unable to do in RG. The authors caution that care must be taken in designing RG systems to ensure that grazing on seasonally preferred habitats can be controlled to allow strategic access to nutritionally critical habitats.
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