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Cow-calf Performance as Affected by Stocking Density and its Relationship with Nutrient Dynamics and Water Quality
Cattle have been identified, ear tagged for individual identification, and assigned to one of four stocking densities (Table 1). The four stocking densities are replicated in eight winter array 80-acre pastures and 8 summer array 50-acre pastures (Table 2). The animals assigned to a specific stocking density will remain in the particular stocking density when moved between winter and summer arrays. Tables 1 and 2 are located here: http://www.agen.ufl.edu/~maerc/stocking/design.html.
A cow-calf herd management calendar has been developed. The calendar covers all aspects of cow-calf management practices. Vaccinations, breeding soundness exam of bulls, start and ending of the breeding season, deworming of cattle, implanting calves with growth promotants, castration of male calves, palpation to determine pregnancy, and shipping of calves are all items included on the herd management calendar for Buck Island Ranch (Table 3).
Animal performance data collection will begin when the experiment starts in the Fall of 1998 with the introduction of the cows into the winter array pastures.
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