Evaluating mob stocking for beef cattle in a temperate grassland

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dc.contributor.authorTracy, Benjamin F.en
dc.contributor.authorBauer, Robert B.en
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-18T12:59:07Zen
dc.date.available2021-10-18T12:59:07Zen
dc.date.issued2019-12-12en
dc.date.updated2021-10-18T12:59:04Zen
dc.description.abstractMob stocking is a type of livestock management method where high densities of animals are restricted to a small area of grassland for short periods of time (e.g., 12–24 hr.) before being moved to new forage. Use of mob stocking has generated considerable interest among forage-livestock professionals in recent years, but questions remain about its purported benefits to cattle and forage plants. To address questions about the possible benefits of mob stocking, a 3-yr study (2014–2016) was conducted in Virginia, USA comparing mob, rotational, and continuous stocking methods in a temperate grassland common to that region. The main objective of this study was to evaluate how mob-stocking management affected selected forage variables, cattle performance, and legume/weed abundance. Herbage mass and nutritive value were measured monthly. Cow and calf weights and body condition score (BCS) were used as indicators of animal performance. Legumes (red and white clover) were over-seeded prior to the study, and their abundance along with weeds were evaluated annually thereafter. Mean herbage mass and forage nutritive values were similar across mob, rotational and continuously stocked systems despite extra-long rest periods that allowed grasses to grow tall and over-mature under mob stocking. Cow weights going into winter were lower (P < 0.05) under mob stocking (619 kg) compared with continuous stocking (688 kg) possibly because many tall grasses were trampled and not grazed. Lastly, we found mob stocking can favor establishment of erect-growing red clover (Trifolium pretense L.), but it had no effect on weed abundance. Overall, we found few compelling reasons why mob stocking should be adopted for season-long forage and livestock production over other stocking methods in this environment.en
dc.description.versionPublished versionen
dc.format.extent13 page(s)en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifierARTN e0226360 (Article number)en
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226360en
dc.identifier.eissn1932-6203en
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203en
dc.identifier.issue12en
dc.identifier.orcidTracy, Benjamin [0000-0002-3757-5938]en
dc.identifier.otherPONE-D-19-22085 (PII)en
dc.identifier.pmid31830098en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/105403en
dc.identifier.volume14en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherPLoSen
dc.relation.urihttp://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000534070200072&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=930d57c9ac61a043676db62af60056c1en
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
dc.subjectnutritive-valueen
dc.subjectpastureen
dc.subjectmanagementen
dc.subjectqualityen
dc.subjectgrowthen
dc.subjectperformanceen
dc.subjectdefoliationen
dc.subjectsystemsen
dc.subjectyielden
dc.subject.meshAnimal Feeden
dc.subject.meshAnimal Husbandryen
dc.subject.meshAnimalsen
dc.subject.meshCattleen
dc.subject.meshGrasslanden
dc.subject.meshNutritive Valueen
dc.subject.meshPlant Weedsen
dc.subject.meshPoaceaeen
dc.subject.meshSeasonsen
dc.titleEvaluating mob stocking for beef cattle in a temperate grasslanden
dc.title.serialPLOS ONEen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
dc.type.otherArticleen
dc.type.otherJournalen
dcterms.dateAccepted2019-11-24en
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Techen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Agriculture & Life Sciencesen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/All T&R Facultyen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Agriculture & Life Sciences/CALS T&R Facultyen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Agriculture & Life Sciences/School of Plant and Environmental Sciencesen

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