Kikuyu pastures at the Ukulinga research farm near Pietermaritzburg were fertilized with 150 and 300 kg nitrogen (N) ha -1 in the summer periods of 1985-86 and 1986-87, and were continuously grazed with steers at stocking rates of 5.4, 8.0 and 10.7 steers ha -1. In the second season the high N level pasture was also grazed under 12-paddock rotational grazing at stocking rates of 5.4, 8.0 and 13.4 steers ha -1. In the first season the high N level provided higher (P < 0.05) animal weight gains, but there was no difference between N levels in animal weight gain during the second season. Rotational grazing provided higher weight gains than continuous grazing in the second season. The increased weight gains obtained from high N fertilization and rotational grazing were probably caused by higher forage availability rather than higher forage quality.
Keywords: average daily gain; continuous grazing; fertilization; forage quality; grazing; grazing effects; herbage availability; kikuyu; kikuyu pastures; nitrogen fertilization; pasture; pastures; pennisetum clandestinum; pietermaritzburg; rotational grazing; south africa; stocking rate; ukulinga research station