Gains of Dairy Replacement Heifers in Rotational vs. Continuous Grazing SystemsTruman State University Undergraduate Research Stipend, 2000 Dr. Michael Seipel and Dr. Thomas Marshall, Faculty Mentors Abstract: Livestock farmers are experimenting with
rotational grazing systems as an alternative to conventional grazing systems.
The research project of raising replacement dairy heifers on two grazing
systems attempts to answer the question: Is rotational grazing able
to provide a healthier, more cost-effective means of raising replacement
dairy heifers than continuous grazing? To set up the research, a
24-acre field was divided into 4 pastures consisting of 2 continuously
grazed pastures and 2 rotationally grazed pastures. The pastures
were stocked with approximately the same weight per acre of one-year-old
replacement dairy heifers. The weight gain of the heifers was measured
each month for the 3-month grazing period. The forage production
(ib. of dry matter /acre) was measured every 2-weeks with a Pasture Gauge.
After the first month, excess forage from the pastures with the rotational
grazing system was harvested. The average gain over the entire period
was 176.49 lb, per heifer for the continuous grazing system and 157.23
lb. per heifer for the rotational grazing system (p<0.02). The
rotational grazing system utilized more forage because approximately 20,000
lb. per acre was harvested and more forage was left standing after the
end of the grazing period.
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