Laboratory and digestion studies evaluated the nutritional value of the commercially available stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst var. nlemfuensis), 'Ona', two experimental stargrasses, 'Florona' and 'Florico', and the experimental bermudagrass 'Callie 35-3' (Cynodon dactylon). Ona and Florico stargrasses were also evaluated under grazing. Florico stargrass had the lowest concentration of...

Chaparral herbicide has shown in small-plot experiments to suppress seed head emergence in tall fescue. A two-yr grazing experiment is being conducted with steers grazed on endophyte-infected tall fescue pastures that are either treated or untreated with Chaparral herbicide. The objective of the experiment is to determine if suppression of seed head emergence and maturity can increase average d...

Ultrahigh stocking density (113,000 kg of beef per ha to as high as 1 million kg per ha) or mob grazing has been suggested to build soil, increase forage production and plant diversity, and improve grazing distribution compared to less intensive grazing systems. Experimental evidence does not completely support such conclusions. The overall focus of this research is based on the approach of bui...

This experiment compared California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi) activity on replicated grazed and ungrazed pastures in a blue oak (Quercus douglasii) savanna. During the 4-year study, squirrel activity, measured as the number of active burrows, generally declined in grazed and ungrazed pastures without oak canopy. Squirrel activity declined least in grazed pastures with blue oak can...

The objective of this study was to test the combined effect of offstream water and trace mineral salt on cattle distribution in a riparian meadow and its adjacent uplands. From July 15 to August 26, 1996 and 1997, three treatments were each randomly assigned to one pasture in each of three blocks. Sixty cow/calf pairs were then randomly allotted to the grazed pastures. The treatments included 1...

BACKGROUND With world food demand expected to double by 2050, identifying farming systems that benefit both agricultural production and biodiversity is a fundamentally important challenge for the 21(st) century, but this has to be achieved in a sustainable way. Livestock grazing management directly influences both economic outputs and biodiversity on upland farms while contributing to potential...

Cattle grazing tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) often develop fescue toxicosis. This condition is thought to be caused by ergot alkaloids produced by the endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum. Endophytes from wild tall fescue plants, which do not produce ergot alkaloids, were transferred into the endophyte-free tall fescue germplasm, HiMag. The novel associations also lacked the ability ...

Pastures located on southern Iowa cow/calf farms, from 8 to 125 ha in size, were used to evaluate the effects of microclimate, shade, botanical composition, and other pasture characteristics influencing the temporal/ spatial distribution of cattle within and outside streamside zones of pastures. Cows were Angus and Angus-cross on 4 of the farms, and Mexican Corriente on the remaining farm. Duri...