In a field study in Saskatchewan, Schellenberg et al. examined the effects of four dates of grazing of mixed prairie rangeland on forage yield and quality, carrying capacity, and animal gain and beef production. There was no apparent harmful effect on the plants by grazing native range as early as mid-May when one year's rest was provided before regrazing. However, available forage yields of native range and crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) doubled from mid-May to the end of June, reflecting the maximum growth period in most years. Weather was a major factor affecting forage production resulting in a date-by-year interaction for available forage. Annual carrying capacity of mixed prairie and crested wheatgrass averaged 27% less in May than three other dates from June to late September. Results indicate that carrying capacity can be increased by uniform utilization of the pasture. Because of the greater increase in total forage produced by crested wheatgrass in June compared to mixed prairie, stockpiled mixed prairie should be used for early spring, late summer and fall grazing; while crested wheatgrass can be grazed in late May or June. Later in the season, crested wheatgrass and lowland forage was not consumed by steers as readily as mixed prairie, and ideally should be grazed earlier in the growing season (end of June).
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