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ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #104740
Title: TO SEED OR NOT TO SEED...

Author
item Haferkamp, Marshall
item Grings, Elaine

Submitted to: Montana Farmer
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2000
Publication Date: 5/15/2000
Citation: HAFERKAMP, M.R., GRINGS, E.E. TO SEED OR NOT TO SEED.... MONTANA FARMER. p. 30-31. 2000.

Interpretive Summary: Determining what is needed to balance total forage availability and quality with nutritional requirements for grazing livestock is paramount to obtaining success from a forage-range livestock system. Animal performance responses are not consistent when compared for animals grazing seeded pastures vs. native range in spring. Much of this variation appears related to different environmental condition for different regions and also to the plant species composition on adjacent native range. Differences in animal responses between seeded pastures and native range are less with below average spring precipitation and with a higher component of warm-season grasses.

Technical Abstract: Determining what is needed to balance total forage availability and quality with nutritional requirements for grazing livestock is paramount to obtaining success from a forage-range livestock system. Animal performance responses are not consistent when compared for animals grazing seeded pastures vs. native range in spring. Much of this variation appears related to different environmental condition for different regions and also to the plant species composition on adjacent native range. Differences in animal responses between seeded pastures and native range are less with below average spring precipitation and with a higher component of warm-season grasses.