Data from USDA ARS Central Plains Experimental Range (CPER) near Nunn, CO: Cattle weight gains managed with light, moderate and heavy grazing intensities
The USDA-Agricultural Research Service Central Plains Experimental Range (CPER) is a Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network site located ~20 km northeast of Nunn, in north-central Colorado, USA. In 1939, scientists established the Long-term Grazing Intensity study (LTGI) with four replications of light, moderate, and heavy grazing. Each replication had three 129.5 ha pastures with the grazing intensity treatment randomly assigned. Today, one replication remains. Light grazing occurs in pasture 23W (9.3 Animal Unit Days (AUD)/ha, targeted for 20% utilization of peak growing-season biomass), moderate grazing in pasture 15E (12.5 AUD/ha, 40% utilization), and heavy grazing in pasture 23E (18.6 AUD/ha, 60% utilization). British- and continental-breed yearling cattle graze the pastures season-long from mid-May to October except when forage limitations shorten the grazing season. Individual raw data on cattle entry and exit weights, as well as weights every 28-days during the grazing season are available from 2000 to 2019. Cattle entry and exit weights are included in this dataset. Weight outliers (± 2 SD) are flagged for calculating summary statistics or performing statistical analysis.
Resources in this dataset:
Resource Title: Data Dictionary for LTGI Cattle weights on CPER (2000-2019).
File Name: LTGI_2000-2019_data_dictionary.csv
Resource Description: Data dictionary for data from USDA ARS Central Plains Experimental Range (CPER) near Nunn, CO cattle weight gains managed with light, moderate and heavy grazing intensities
Resource Title: LTGI Cattle weights on CPER (2000-2019).
File Name: LTGI_2000-2019_all_weights_published.csv
Resource Description: Data from USDA ARS Central Plains Experimental Range (CPER) near Nunn, CO cattle weight gains managed with light, moderate and heavy grazing intensities
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
Single replication of the grazing intensity treatmentsTemporal Extent Start Date
2000-01-01Temporal Extent End Date
2019-12-31Theme
- Not specified
Geographic Coverage
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The USDA-Agricultural Research Service Central Plains Experimental Range (CPER) is a Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network site located ~20 km northeast of Nunn, in north-central Colorado, USA (40°50 N, 104°43 W, 1645 m above sea level). Mean annual precipitation (1939–2018) is 340 mm, with 43% of this occurring from April through June and 37% from July through September. Major soils on the study pastures are Ascalon fine sandy loam (fine-loamy mixed mesic Aridic Argiustoll) and Renohill fine sandy loam (fine montmorillonitic mesic Ustollic Haplargid). The main ecological site in the study pastures is Loamy Plains (Site ID: R067BY002CO; data available online). The perennial C4 shortgrass blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis [Willd. ex Kunth] Lag ex Griffiths) is the dominant species and increases as grazing intensity increases. Conversely, the perennial C3 mid-height grasses western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii [Rydb] A. Love) and needle-and-thread (Hesperostipa comata [Trin. & Rupr.] Barkworth ssp. comata) decrease with increasing grazing intensity. Other key plant species include needleleaf sedge (Carex duriuscula C.A. Mey), an important perennial C3 graminoid, scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea [Nutt.] Rydb.), the primary forb, and plains pricklypear cactus (Opuntia polyacantha Haw).ISO Topic Category
- environment
- farming
Ag Data Commons Group
- Central Plains Experimental Range
- Long-Term Livestock Production
National Agricultural Library Thesaurus terms
Colorado; weight gain; grazing intensity; pastures; yearlings; forage; beef cattle; rangelands; cattle productionOMB Bureau Code
- 005:18 - Agricultural Research Service
OMB Program Code
- 005:040 - National Research
ARS National Program Number
- 215
Pending citation
- No
Public Access Level
- Public