Effects of Two Heights and Three Intervals of Grazing on the Productivity of a Heavily Fertilized Pangola Grass Pasture

Abstract

The effects of two grazing heights and three different grazing intervals on yields of Pangola grass were determined under actual grazing management over a 1-year period. Yields of forage actually consumed by the grazing cattle were determined by sampling small fenced plots before and after each grazing round and determining by difference the forage consumed. Higher yields of forage were obtained when the grass was grazed to within about 6 inches of the ground than with close grazing (an average of 13,096 vs 9,677 pounds of dry forage per acre yearly). Yields of forage decreased with increasing length of grazing interval averaging 12,640, 11,568 and 9,951 pounds of dry forage per acre yearly, with grazing intervals of 14, 21 and 28 days, respectively. There was no significant interaction between grazing height and frequency of grazing. It appears best to graze heavily fertilized Pangola grass pastures to about 6 inches from the ground about every 2 weeks during seasons of fast growth and every 3 weeks during seasons of slow growth.