Three hundred thirteen mixed breed steers
(558 lb) were used to determine the effect of
long-term management of native grass pastures
on gain. Steers were allotted randomly to eight
pastures previously grazed for 1/2 season (1
steer/2 acres from April to July 15, 81 days) or
3/4 season (1 steer/3 acres from April to August
15, 112 days) from 1990 to 1998. In
1999, all pastures were stocked at 1 steer/2
acres and grazed 83 days until July 15 or 16.
The steers received free-choice mineral and
were supplemented six times with 2 lb of 20%
crude protein range cubes to aid in gathering.
The steers on pastures previously grazed for
3/4 season gained faster (P<.01) than those on
pastures previously grazed for 1/2 season. The
1/2-season pastures appeared to have taller,
more mature grass left after the 1999 grazing
season than those previously grazed for 3/4
season. The 1999 season was extremely wet
until July 15, which may have been a factor in
the gain difference. This study clearly showed
that gains were good following either system of
grazing. However, under these environmental
conditions, pastures previously grazed for 3/4
season had the advantage.
