The effect of stocking rate and grazing system on the performance of beef steers grazing an Eragrostis curvula pasture

Abstract

Animal average daily growth shows a characteristic drop in the spring/early summer period (until 31 December), a slight increase over the mid-summer period (January/February) and a rapid decline in autumn (March). Growth ranges from 0,8 to 0,5kg/animal/day in spring/early summer and 0,25 to 0,5kg/animal/day in mid-summer according to stocking rate and pasture production. Animal performance is generally lower in the wetter seasons. At light stocking rate there was no significant difference between continuous and rotational grazing, whereas at high stocking rate the rotational system showed definite advantage particularly in a drier season.

Keywords: stocking rates|grazing systems|performance|steers|cows|grazing|pastures|growth|daily growth|animals|seasons|seasonalities|grazing regimes|Kokstad