Effects of stocking rate and grazing management on cattle production from trpical grass digitaria setivalva stent

C.P. Chen and O. Othman

Abstract

An experiment was designed to study the effects of stocking rate and grazing management on pasture dry matter and animal production. botanical and chemical composition of nitrogen-fertilized Digitaria setivalva pasture over a period of four years at Serdang. Higher animal production resulted from an increased number of animals in pasture was obtained under rotational grazing - a system with one week on and three weeks off grazing. This system conserved more pasture dry matter on offer, maintained higher percentage of digit grass in the sward and reduced volunteer weeds invasion compared with that under continuous grazing. Rotational grazing at 6.7 heads/ha and continuous grazing at 5.3 heads/ha maintained stable pasture to achieve highest animal production per hectare as well as daily live weight gain per head. However. higher plant mineral levels were detected in continuously grazed pasture than in rotationally grazed pasture.

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