Performance of Cows and Calves with Continuous or Rotational Stocking of Endophyte-Infested Tall Fescue-Clover Pastures

Abstract

Rotational stocking (RS) is sometimes advocated as a means of improving forage quality or performance of grazing animals, but there are few data comparing RS to continuous stocking (CS), especially with tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). The two grazing methods were compared with endophyte-(Acremonium coenophialum Morgan-Jones and Gams) infested tall fescue-clover (Trifolium spp. L.) pastures at Springfield, TN. Pastures were 16 to 28 acres, and treatments were replicated twice. Beef (Bos taurus L.) cows and their calves grazed the pastures during four grazing seasons, April to early or mid-fall. The RS pastures were subdivided into seven paddocks, with 3- to 4-d grazing periods alternating with 18- to 24-d rest periods. The stocking rate was 1.8 acre per cow-calf pair. There were no differences between the two grazing methods in quantity of forage available to the grazing animals nor in animal performance.