Data from USDA ARS High Plains Grasslands Research Station (East Unit) near Cheyenne, WY: Yearling cattle weight gains managed in light, moderate and heavily stocked pastures (1982-2022)
The USDA-Agricultural Research Service High Plains Grasslands Research Station (HPGRS) is located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA. In 1982, a long-term stocking rate study on northern mixed-grass prairie was initiated with season-long (early June to October) grazing. Stocking rates defined as light (35% below NRCS recommended rate, 15 yearlings per 80 ha), moderate (NRCS recommended rate, 4 yearlings per 12ha), and heavy (33% above NRCS recommended rate, 4 yearlings per 9 ha). British- and continental-breed yearling cattle were used throughout the study years. When forage supply was limited due to drought, grazing seasons were shortened or cattle were not grazed for that season. Individual raw data on cattle entry and exit weights are available from 1982 to 2022. No grazing occurred in the years 1989, 2000, and 2002 due to drought conditions. Weight gain outliers (± 2 sd of treatment mean) were removed from the dataset.
Resources in this dataset:
Resource Title: Long-Term Grazing Intensity (LTGI) cattle weight gains.
File Name: EastUnit_LTGI.csv
Resource Description: Cattle weight gain data from the Long-Term Grazing Intensity (LTGI) 1982-2022 on the USDA Agricultural Research Service High Plains Grasslands Research Station, near Cheyenne, WY
Resource Title: Data Dictionary for Long-Term Grazing Intensity (LTGI) cattle weight gains .
File Name: EastUnit_LTGI_DataDictionary.csv
Resource Description: Data dictionary for cattle weight gain data from the Long-Term Grazing Intensity (LTGI) 1982-2022 on the USDA Agricultural Research Service High Plains Grasslands Research Station, near Cheyenne, WY
Funding
USDA-ARS: 3012-21610-003-00D
History
Data contact name
Derner, JustinData contact email
Justin.Derner@usda.govPublisher
Ag Data CommonsIntended use
Research and educationUse limitations
The moderate and heavy stocking rates are twice replicated; the light stocking rate was applied in a single pasture so results from that treatment should be interpreted cautiously due to pseudo-replication.Temporal Extent Start Date
1982-01-01Temporal Extent End Date
2022-12-31Theme
- Not specified
Geographic Coverage
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An experiment was initiated in 1982 on northern mixed-grass prairie at the USDA–Agricultural Research Service High Plains Grasslands Research Station, approximately 7 km northwest of Cheyenne, Wyoming (lat 41°11′N, long 104°53′W). Mean annual precipitation (132 years) is 381 mm with a peak in May. Soils are coarse and well drained, comprised mainly of Albinas, Ascalon, and Altvan loams (mixed mesic Aridic Argiustolls) and Cascajo gravelly loam (mixed mesic Aridic Calciorthid) (Stevenson et al. 1984). Vegetation is mainly grasses. Perennial cool-season graminoids include western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), needle-and-thread (Hesperostipa comata), prairie junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), and needleleaf sedge (Carex duriuscula). Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is the primary perennial warm-season grass, scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) is the primary forb, and fringed sage (Artemisia frigida) is the primary subshrub. Warm-season grasses and forbs increase and cool-season perennial grasses decrease as stocking rate increases. Prior to 1982 the site was part of F. E. Warren Air Force Base and not grazed by livestock.ISO Topic Category
- environment
- farming
Ag Data Commons Group
- Long-Term Livestock Production
National Agricultural Library Thesaurus terms
yearlings; weight gain; pastures; stocking rate; mixed-grass prairies; grazing; forage; beef cattle; rangelands; WyomingOMB Bureau Code
- 005:18 - Agricultural Research Service
OMB Program Code
- 005:040 - National Research
ARS National Program Number
- 215
Primary article PubAg Handle
Pending citation
- No
Related material without URL
Derner, J. D., & Hart, R. H. (2007). Grazing-induced modifications to peak standing crop in northern mixed-grass prairie. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 60(3), 270-276. Hart, R. H., Samuel, M. J., Test, P. S., & Smith, M. A. (1988). Cattle, vegetation, and economic responses to grazing systems and grazing pressure. Rangeland Ecology & Management/Journal of Range Management Archives, 41(4), 282-286. Manley, J. T., Schuman, G. E., Reeder, J. D., & Hart, R. H. (1995). Rangeland soil carbon and nitrogen responses to grazing. Journal of soil and water conservation, 50(3), 294-298. Abdel-Magid, A. H., Schuman, G. E., & Hart, R. H. (1987). Soil bulk density and water infiltration as affected by grazing systems. Rangeland Ecology & Management/Journal of Range Management Archives, 40(4), 307-309. Lecain, D. R., Morgan, J. A., Schuman, G. E., Reeder, J. D., & Hart, R. H. (2000). Carbon exchange rates in grazed and ungrazed pastures of Wyoming. Rangeland Ecology & Management/Journal of Range Management Archives, 53(2), 199-206. Hart, R. H., Clapp, S., & Test, P. S. (1993). Grazing strategies, stocking rates, and frequency and intensity of grazing on western wheatgrass and blue grama. Rangeland Ecology & Management/Journal of Range Management Archives, 46(2), 122-126. Hepworth, K. W., Test, P. S., Hart, R. H., Waggoner, J. W., & Smith, M. A. (1991). Grazing systems, stocking rates, and cattle behavior in southeastern Wyoming. Rangeland Ecology & Management/Journal of Range Management Archives, 44(3), 259-262.Public Access Level
- Public