Effects of Stocking Rate and Overseeding with Red Clover on Productivity of Native Pasture Continuously Grazed by Yearling Steers

Abstract

AbstractOverseeding with red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and stocking rate are factors that can affect composition and production of hill land pasture. A grazing experiment utilizing yearling beef steers (Bos taurus) was conducted using 3, 4, and 5 yearling steers ha−1 (285 kg), on native pasture (predominantly Poa pratensis L.) overseeded with red clover and non overseeded. Paddocks of 1 ha were continuously set stocked from mid May to the end of Sept. Herbage mass, herbage consumed and the percentage of legumes, grasses, dead material, and non‐leguminous broadleaf plants were recorded. Animals were weighed at the initiation and end of each grazing season and at 4 week intervals. Overseeding increased legume content 4‐fold the seeding year but much of this increase was lost the following year. Herbage mass was greater on overseeded pasture the year following seeding but no effect on animal productivity was found. Stocking rate did not affect percentage legume but the proportions of other broadleaf plants increased at high stocking rates. Average daily gain as well as total gain ha−1 was greatest at 4 steers ha−1.