Grazing intensities, vegetation, and heifer gains: 55 years on shortgrass

Shortgrass rangeland, dominated by blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis [H.B.K.] Lag. ex Steud), was grazed at 3 intensities, equivalent to mean stocking rates of 16.7, 23.0, and 36.5 heifer-days ha(-1), from 1939 through 1994, Few changes in plant communities had been documented by the early 1970's, In 1992-1994, frequency of occurrence, basal and foliar cover, and biomass at peak standing crop (PSC) were determined on the remaining pasture at each grazing intensity, and on 3 ungrazed exclosures, Blue grama and buffalograss (Buchloe; dactyloides [Nutt,] Engelm,) increased, and western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii [Rydb,] A. Love) and needle-and-thread (Stipa comata Trin, & Rupr.) decreased, as grazing intensity increased. Redthree-awn (Aristida longisieta Steud.) was most plentiful under light grazing. Basal cover and biomass of forbs were lower under grazing than in exclosures, but differences in biomass were not significant. Shrubs and half-shrubs decreased as grazing intensity increased. Frequency and cover of plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha Haw,) were higher in the exclosures and under light grazing than under moderate or heavy grazing; biomass was 4 to 6 times as high in the exclosures as under any grazing intensity. Heifer gains declined linearly with increasing grazing pressure index. Optimum (most profitable) stocking rate was about 20% higher than that under the moderate grazing intensity, under which biomass production was maintained and shrub and pricklypear remained at low levels. Returns to land, labor, and management were only slightly higher under the optimum stocking rate than under the moderate grazing intensity. The moderate grazing intensity appears to be both profitable and sustainable.