Grazing Capacity of Wiregrass-Pine Ranges of Georgia

Abstract

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. Allen Press and Society for Range Management are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of Range Management.Cattle grazing wiregrass forage in lonigleaf-slash pine forests of the Georgia coastal plain have long contributed to the economy of the region. It is estimated that these 13.5 million acres of forest lands supply from 20-25 percent of the total feed for the half million or more beef cattle in the area. However, most landowners consider grazing a secondary use of forestland because the major investments are for timber production. Hence, the major aim in grazing longleafslash pine forests is to bring in additional income by producing maximum beef per animal.Maximum beef production may be attained only by a proper balance between livestock nuimbers and available forage. In the past, cattlemen have depended on observation and experience for determining stocking rates in wiregrasspine ranges. But many problems have beset attempts to regulate cattle numbers in relation to forage production. Pine tree overstory continually changes through a relatively short timber rotation. These changes cause the production of the range to vary from year to year. In addition, the use of fire has a

Management and Utilization of Pineland Threeawn Range in South Florida

“…This response is contrary to the responses reported by Halls et al (1956) for wiregrass ranges in south Georgia with light (30%), moderate (44%) and heavy (65%) utilization of herbage. There, pineland threeawn showed its greatest decline on ranges moderately to heavily grazed and a slight increase on lightly grazed ranges.…”

Understory Plant Response to Site Preparation and Fertilization of Loblolly and Shortleaf Pine Forests

“…cover. Similar findings were reported in Georgia by Halls et al (1956). Wolters et al (1982) theorized that shrub and hardwood crown cover could influence herbaceous plant production equally or to a greater extent than pine basal area or site quality.…”

Use of the Relationship of Stocking Rate to Gain of Cattle in an Experimental Design for Grazing Trials1

“…Generally, as stocking rate was increased gain per animal was decreased but gain per acre was increased. There were exceptions-the two most notable being ( 1) that the lightest stocking rate used did not always produce the highest gain per animal and (2) that the heaviest stocking rate did not always produce the greatest gain per acre. The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship between stocking rate and animal gain and to utilize this relationship, if possible, in an experimental design for grazing studies.…”