The Grazing Habits of Beef Cattle on Pasture

This report gives information on the grazing behavior of beef animals in two experiments as influenced by: (1) forage species and mixtures and (2) continuous grazing of one mixture as compared with rotational grazing among different forage mixtures. There is only limited information available on the grazing behavior of animals as influenced by mixtures and management. It is quite possible that data on the grazing behavior of animals may help interpret animal responses in pasture and forage crop experiments. It has been reported that the grazing habits of beef cattle are influenced by supplemental feeds, rotational grazing, amount of forage herbage available, succulence of herbage, climate, season, and by darkness. The relative importance of these factors is unknown and some of the discrepancies reported in the literature may be associated with differences in environment, plant species, animals, management practices, and experimental designs and procedures. Sheppard (1927), found that steers grazed 8¼ hours per 24-hour day, the main activity occurring during the periods 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. on sweet clover pasture. The grazing pattern was similar for sudan grass. Cory (1927), reported a three-year study of cattle under range conditions in Texas in which 461 minutes daily (i.e., from getting up in the morning to bedding down at night) were spent grazing. Giobel and Lindbom (1933–34) found that the intensity of grazing at night is as great as during the day. Hodgson (1933) reported that cows grazed 28 minutes less for rotational as compared with