S. L. Boyles 1*,
M. L. Mohler+,
B. W. Stoll++,
J. J. Hoorman+
*
The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences
+Ohio State University Extension
++Natural Resources Conservation Service
The Conservation Reserve Program is a voluntary program under which landowners enter into contracts with USDA to remove highly erodible and other environmentally sensitive cropland from production. A three-year project was done to evaluate intensive, rotational cattle grazing as an alternative for this land when it is removed from crop production. A forty-acre area was divided into 28 cells for grazing. Cattle were moved to a new cell on a daily basis. Initial stocking rates were 100, 65, and 40 animals in years one, two, and three, respectively. Yearling cattle (546 + 39.5 lbs.) were placed on grass in the spring. Average daily gain was 1.54 + 0.066 lbs./day. The amount of bare ground did not change over time (P < 0.05) even with clover seed application. There was an increase in the population of weeds over time (P = 0.06) with grazing. However, net energy gain (0.27 + 0.070 Mcal/lb.) and crude protein (23 + 4.7%) did not change over years (P > 0.05). The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must notify area residents when water nitrate nitrogen levels are greater than 10 ppm. Only once during the three-year period did nitrate nitrogen levels in water run-off exceed the 10-ppm level. This was due to a nitrogen fertilizer application just prior to precipitation. Maintaining forage on what was CRP land and using it for grazing should meet the EPA conservation compliance demands to participate in other USDA programs.
1 For more information, contact at: The Ohio State University, 222F Animal Science Building, 2029 Fyffe Road, Columbus, OH 43210; 614-292-7669; fax: 614-292-1515; e-mail: boyles.4@osu.edu