TY - GEN
T1 - COW-CALF production on reclaimed surface mined pastures in appalachia
AU - Teutsch, C. D.
AU - Collins, M.
AU - Ditsch, D. C.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Reclaimed surface mined land in Appalachia could provide grazing for livestock. Research is needed to determine optimal stocking densities (SD) and the sustainability of grazing reclaimed land. In 1997, a grazing study was initiated near Chavies, KY. A 151 ha mountain-top-removal site was divided into two replicates of 12, 24, and 36 ha pastures and adjacent ungrazed areas. Each pasture was stocked with 10 cow-calf units resulting in stocking densities of 0, 0.28, 0.41, or 0.83 cow-calf units per hectare. In October, cows at the highest SD were lighter (476 kg) than cows at the medium (509 kg) and low (505 kg) SD (P<0.01). Pregnancy rates in October were 100% at the high SD compared with 88% at the medium SD and 85% at the low SD (P<0.05). Calf weights were greater on the highest SD in June and August of 1997, but not different in October (P<0.10). In 1998, calf weights on the medium SD were greater throughout the grazing season (P<0.10) and averaged 268, 255, and 247 kg at the medium, low, and high SD respectively (P<0.10). Calves at the high SD were lighter than calves at the low SD for all weigh dates in 1999 after the initial weighing in April. Calf weight per ha was greatest at the high SD in all three years (P<0.05). Grazing intensity was high in all years at the high SD (P<0.01) and groundcover was lower, indicating that this SD may not be sustainable. These data indicate that the medium and low SD may be sustainable for reclaimed mined land pasture ecosystems.
AB - Reclaimed surface mined land in Appalachia could provide grazing for livestock. Research is needed to determine optimal stocking densities (SD) and the sustainability of grazing reclaimed land. In 1997, a grazing study was initiated near Chavies, KY. A 151 ha mountain-top-removal site was divided into two replicates of 12, 24, and 36 ha pastures and adjacent ungrazed areas. Each pasture was stocked with 10 cow-calf units resulting in stocking densities of 0, 0.28, 0.41, or 0.83 cow-calf units per hectare. In October, cows at the highest SD were lighter (476 kg) than cows at the medium (509 kg) and low (505 kg) SD (P<0.01). Pregnancy rates in October were 100% at the high SD compared with 88% at the medium SD and 85% at the low SD (P<0.05). Calf weights were greater on the highest SD in June and August of 1997, but not different in October (P<0.10). In 1998, calf weights on the medium SD were greater throughout the grazing season (P<0.10) and averaged 268, 255, and 247 kg at the medium, low, and high SD respectively (P<0.10). Calves at the high SD were lighter than calves at the low SD for all weigh dates in 1999 after the initial weighing in April. Calf weight per ha was greatest at the high SD in all three years (P<0.05). Grazing intensity was high in all years at the high SD (P<0.01) and groundcover was lower, indicating that this SD may not be sustainable. These data indicate that the medium and low SD may be sustainable for reclaimed mined land pasture ecosystems.
KW - Beef cattle
KW - Grazing
KW - Mountain-top removal
KW - Reclamation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84865440572&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84865440572&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84865440572
SN - 9781605605487
T3 - 25th Annual Meetings of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation and 10th Meeting of IALR 2008
SP - 1164
EP - 1178
BT - 25th Annual Meetings of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation and 10th Meeting of IALR 2008
T2 - 25th Annual Meetings of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, ASMR 2008 and 10th Meeting of International Affiliation of Land Reclamationists, IALR 2008
Y2 - 14 June 2008 through 19 June 2008
ER -
