VEGETATION RESPONSE TO INCREASING STOCKING RATE UNDER ROTATIONAL STOCKING

This 10-year study was designed to evaluate vegetation response to inc reasing stocking rates under rotational stocking (3 days graze, 51 day s rest) and long-term rest. The 4 stocking rate treatments ranged from the recommended rate for moderate continuous grazing to 2.7 times the recommended rate. Common curly-mesquite [Hilaria belangeri (Steud,) N ash] increased (P = 0.05) in all grazed treatments and decreased in th e livestock exclosure. Sideoats grams [Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr.] along with other midgrasses decreased (P = 0.07) in all grazed treatments and increased in the livestock exclosure. Because the midg rasses were palatable species and not abundant, they were defoliated t oo intensively and too frequently, Rotational stocking was not able to sustain initial species composition at any of the stocking rates test ed.