In this New Mexico study, Senock et al. compared the frequency of defoliation and change in height (defoliation intensity) on individually marked tillers of tobosa (Hilaria mutica) under high-intensity seasonal rotational stocking and low-density seasonal continuous stocking. Approximately 40% of tiller height, including leaves, was removed at each defoliation in the rotational treatment, while intensity of defoliation per grazing event remained consistent. In the continuous treatment, amount of tiller removed varied greatly and was not consistent among the 4 periods. Percentage of tillers defoliated in the rotational treatment was always greater than 75%, and always less than 30% in the continuous treatment. The much lower grazing pressure in the continuous paddock resulted in a low probability of tiller grazing and especially regrazing during any period. Reduced tiller usage in the continuous paddock indicates large amounts of forage will remain ungrazed. This study indicates that continuous stocking results in highly nonuniform usage of tobosa forage, while high-density rotational stocking results in a more uniform use.
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