Abstract
Objective:Our objective was to document the effects of prescribed fire timing on yearling beef cattle performance, native plant composition, and forage biomass accumulation in the Kansas Flint Hills.
Study Description:Our study took place at the Kansas State Beef Stocker Unit located northwest of Manhattan, KS. Pastures were assigned to one of three prescribed burn treatments: early spring (April), mid-summer (August), or early fall (October). Treatments were applied and yearling heifers (n = 360) were subsequently grazed from May to August. Native plant composition and forage biomass were evaluated annually in late June and early July.
The Bottom Line:The first year of data from a six-year study indicated that prescribed fire timing affected stocker cattle performance and forage biomass availability but not basal cover of forage grasses and forbs.
Keywords: stocker cattle, prescribed fire, grazing
How to Cite:
Duncan, Z. M., Tajchman, A. J., Ramirez, M. P., Lemmon, J., Hollenbeck, W. R., Blasi, D. A. & Olson, K. C., (2020) “Effects of Prescribed Fire Timing on Stocker Cattle Performance, Native Plant Composition, Forage Biomass, and Root Carbohydrate Reserves in the Kansas Flint Hills: Year One of Six”, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 6(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7884
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