Increased stocking rates boost cow-calf productivity on mixed grass pastures.
Beef producers need to know how many cows their pastures can support all year. Researchers studied different stocking rates and methods on pastures with different grasses. They found that higher stocking rates led to more calf weight gain. Continuous stocking at a high rate had better forage quality in spring and summer. But overall, cow-calf productivity was similar between continuous and rotational stocking methods at high stocking rates.