Coal mine land reclamation: Grazing pressure impacts cattle weight gain.
The researchers studied how cattle grazing affects mixed pastures on reclaimed coal mine land. They tested different stocking rates by varying the length of tether ropes for the cattle. They found that the amount of grass consumed and the weight gain of the cattle varied depending on the grazing pressure. The highest weight gain was seen with a smaller grazing area, while dry matter consumption peaked at a moderate grazing pressure. The types of plants in the pasture also changed with grazing pressure.