EFFECT OF LONG-TERM, YEAR-LONG GRAZING AT MODERATE AND HEAVY RATES OF STOCKING ON DIET SELECTION AND FORAGE INTAKE DYNAMICS
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A 2-yr experiment was conducted to determine the effect of 27 yr of continuous grazing at moderate (7 ha/cow/yr) (MC) and heavy (5 ha/cow/yr) (HC) rates of stocking on seasonal diet selection and forage intake dynamics. Proportion of Texas wintergrass Stipa leucothrica in diets was greater in the MC than HC treatment whereas amounts of warm-season short- and midgrasses were less. Differences between treatments in botanical composition of diets were related to differences in seasonal availability and live:dead tissue ratios of forages, but such differences did not generally affect diet quality. Forage organic intake was restricted at forage standing crops <700 kg/ha. -from Authors