Project Number: 3605-13000-004-02
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 27, 2006
End Date: May 31, 2011

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is to investigate the effects of management intensive grazing on soil and water quality, forage composition and quality, and animal projection, meat and milk quality.

Approach:
The environmental and productivity effects of a management intensive grazing system will be compared to a continuous grazing system by grazing beef cattle on four small watersheds at the NAEW. Two watersheds will be in each management practice. Runoff quantity and quality will be measured for each runoff event. Changes in forage composition and quality will be assessed on a periodic basis. The cows will be weighed and scored for body condition on a periodic basis and milk samples will be obtained to determine the content of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and other fatty acids. Subcutaneous fat biopsies will be performed at the end of the grazing season to determine fatty acid content. Forage tissue turnover and decomposition measurements will also be made.