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Data from USDA ARS High Plains Grasslands Research Station (East Unit) near Cheyenne, WY: Yearling cattle weight gains managed in light, moderate and heavily stocked pastures (1982-2022)

Cattle in Cheyenne, WY on the High Plains Grasslands Research Station

The USDA-Agricultural Research Service High Plains Grasslands Research Station (HPGRS) is located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA. In 1982, a long-term stocking rate study on northern mixed-grass prairie was initiated with season-long (early June to October) grazing. Stocking rates defined as light (35% below NRCS recommended rate, 15 yearlings per 80 ha), moderate (NRCS recommended rate, 4 yearlings per 12ha), and heavy (33% above NRCS recommended rate, 4 yearlings per 9 ha). British- and continental-breed yearling cattle were used throughout the study years. When forage supply was limited due to drought, grazing seasons were shortened or cattle were not grazed for that season. Individual raw data on cattle entry and exit weights are available from 1982 to 2022. No grazing occurred in the years 1989, 2000, and 2002 due to drought conditions. Weight gain outliers (± 2 sd of treatment mean) were removed from the dataset.

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FieldValue
Tags
beef cattle
cattle
cattle weight gain
grazing
rangeland
NP215
Modified
2023-02-08
Release Date
2023-02-08
Frequency
Annually
Identifier
c25bf6b1-752e-42a2-aeac-a872dcb21630
Spatial / Geographical Coverage Area
POLYGON ((-104.86690002079 41.213850944115, -104.86685884935 41.209162314033, -104.86686118172 41.208720884225, -104.86686147152 41.208212562483, -104.86455899013 41.208731632937, -104.86460278777 41.213870287356, -104.86690002079 41.213850944115))
POLYGON ((-104.87200950742 41.218089769573, -104.87209196848 41.21594703746, -104.87208622781 41.213870708012, -104.86870448506 41.213895542939, -104.86870989229 41.215537962644, -104.87062719181 41.215522295952, -104.87062215131 41.218080358554, -104.87200950742 41.218089769573))
POLYGON ((-104.86016258725 41.218064149882, -104.86018399651 41.214588402137, -104.85673729067 41.214636389396, -104.85668602486 41.218069791589, -104.86016258725 41.218064149882))
POLYGON ((-104.85667488702 41.218076166044, -104.85673358357 41.21464143494, -104.86010838122 41.214593475291, -104.86011960455 41.214549784834, -104.86310107268 41.214171797419, -104.86307897158 41.213885079731, -104.86265845853 41.213888024209, -104.86262346429 41.209170029827, -104.84770965883 41.212509870127, -104.84762257479 41.218093005094, -104.85667488702 41.218076166044))
POLYGON ((-104.8646027881 41.213870123734, -104.86455863629 41.208731849999, -104.86262948364 41.209163778575, -104.8626637131 41.213884068864, -104.8646027881 41.213870123734))
Publisher
Ag Data Commons
Spatial / Geographical Coverage Location
An experiment was initiated in 1982 on northern mixed-grass prairie at the USDA–Agricultural Research Service High Plains Grasslands Research Station, approximately 7 km northwest of Cheyenne, Wyoming (lat 41°11′N, long 104°53′W). Mean annual precipitation (132 years) is 381 mm with a peak in May. Soils are coarse and well drained, comprised mainly of Albinas, Ascalon, and Altvan loams (mixed mesic Aridic Argiustolls) and Cascajo gravelly loam (mixed mesic Aridic Calciorthid) (Stevenson et al. 1984). Vegetation is mainly grasses. Perennial cool-season graminoids include western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), needle-and-thread (Hesperostipa comata), prairie junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), and needleleaf sedge (Carex duriuscula). Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is the primary perennial warm-season grass, scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) is the primary forb, and fringed sage (Artemisia frigida) is the primary subshrub. Warm-season grasses and forbs increase and cool-season perennial grasses decrease as stocking rate increases. Prior to 1982 the site was part of F. E. Warren Air Force Base and not grazed by livestock.
Temporal Coverage
January 1, 1982 to December 31, 2022
License
U.S. Public Domain
Data Dictionary

https://data.nal.usda.gov/dataset/data-usda-ars-high-plains-grasslands-r...
Contact Name
Derner, Justin
Contact Email
Justin.Derner@usda.gov
Public Access Level
Public
Program Code
005:040 - Department of Agriculture - National Research
Bureau Code
005:18 - Agricultural Research Service
Extended Metadata: 
FieldValue
Authors
Derner, Justin D (ORCID)
Clapp, Stanley
Freeman, Pam
Hart, Richard H. (Scopus Author ID)
Mortenson, Matt (Scopus Author ID)
Peer Reviewed
No
Intended Use
Research and education
Use Limitations
The moderate and heavy stocking rates are twice replicated; the light stocking rate was applied in a single pasture so results from that treatment should be interpreted cautiously due to pseudo-replication.
Funding Sources
Agricultural Research Service
3012-21610-003-00D
Primary Article

Derner, J. D., Hart, R. H., Smith, M. A., & Waggoner, J. W. , Jr. (2008). Long-term cattle gain responses to stocking rate and grazing systems in northern mixed-grass prairie. Livestock Science, 117(1), 60-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2007.11.011

AgID: 10113/21075
Related Articles

Derner, J. D., & Hart, R. H. (2007). Grazing-induced modifications to peak standing crop in northern mixed-grass prairie. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 60(3), 270-276.

Porensky, L. M., Mueller, K. E., Augustine, D. J., & Derner, J. D. (2016). Thresholds and gradients in a semi-arid grassland: long-term grazing treatments induce slow, continuous and reversible vegetation change. Journal of Applied Ecology, 53(4), 1013-1022. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12630

Poděbradská, M., Wylie, B. K., Bathke, D. J., Bayissa, Y. A., Dahal, D., Derner, J. D., Fay, P. A., Hayes, M. J., Schacht, W. H., Volesky, J. D., Wagle, P., & Wardlow, B. D. (2021). Monitoring Climate Impacts on Annual Forage Production across U.S. Semi-Arid Grasslands. Remote Sensing, 14(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14010004

Petrie, M. D., Peters, D. P. C., Yao, J., Blair, J. M., Burruss, N. D., Collins, S. L., Derner, J. D., Gherardi, L. A., Hendrickson, J. R., Sala, O. E., Starks, P. J., & Steiner, J. L. (2018). Regional grassland productivity responses to precipitation during multiyear above- and below-average rainfall periods. Global Change Biology, 24(5), 1935-1951. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14024

Reeves, J. L., Derner, J. D., Sanderson, M. A., Kronberg, S. L., Hendrickson, J. R., Vermeire, L. T., Petersen, M. K., & Gonzalo Irisarri, J. (2015). Seasonal Weather-Related Decision Making for Cattle Production in the Northern Great Plains. Rangelands, 37(3), 119-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rala.2015.03.003

Fang, Q. X., Ahuja, L., Andales, A. A., & Derner, J. D. (2015). Using a Model and Forecasted Weather to Predict Forage and Livestock Production for Making Stocking Decisions in the Coming Growing Season. In Practical Applications of Agricultural System Models to Optimize the Use of Limited Water (pp. 161-181). American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America. https://doi.org/10.2134/advagricsystmodel5.c7

Fang, Q., Andales, A., Derner, J., Ahuja, L., Ma, L., Bartling, P., Reeves, J., & Qi, Z. (2014). Modeling weather and stocking rate effects on forage and steer production in northern mixed-grass prairie. Agricultural Systems, 129, 103-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2014.05.011

Irisarri, J. G. N., Derner, J. D., Porensky, L. M., Augustine, D. J., Reeves, J., & Mueller, K. E. (2016). Grazing intensity differentially regulates ANPP response to precipitation in North American semiarid grasslands. Ecological Applications, 26(5), 1370-1380. https://doi.org/10.1890/15-1332

Smart, A., Derner, J., Hendrickson, J., Gillen, R., Dunn, B., Mousel, E., Johnson, P., Gates, R., Sedivec, K., Harmoney, K., Volesky, J., & Olson, K. (2010). Effects of Grazing Pressure on Efficiency of Grazing on North American Great Plains Rangelands. Rangeland Ecology &Amp; Management, 63(4), 397-406. https://doi.org/10.2111/rem-d-09-00046.1

Derner, J. D., & Whitman, A. J. (2009). Plant Interspaces Resulting From Contrasting Grazing Management in Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie: Implications for Ecosystem Function. Rangeland Ecology &Amp; Management, 62(1), 83-88. https://doi.org/10.2111/08-098

Ingram, L. J., Stahl, P. D., Schuman, G. E., Buyer, J. S., Vance, G. F., Ganjegunte, G. K., Welker, J. M., & Derner, J. D. (2008). Grazing Impacts on Soil Carbon and Microbial Communities in a Mixed‐Grass Ecosystem. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 72(4), 939-948. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2007.0038

Andales, A. A., Derner, J. D., Ahuja, L. R., & Hart, R. H. (2006). Strategic and Tactical Prediction of Forage Production in Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie. Rangeland Ecology &Amp; Management, 59(6), 576-584. https://doi.org/10.2111/06-001r1.1

Schuman, G. E., Reeder, J. D., Manley, J. T., Hart, R. H., & Manley, W. A. (1999). IMPACT OF GRAZING MANAGEMENT ON THE CARBON AND NITROGEN BALANCE OF A MIXED-GRASS RANGELAND. Ecological Applications, 9(1), 65-71. https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(1999)009[0065:iogmot]2.0.co;2

Hart, R. H., Samuel, M. J., Test, P. S., & Smith, M. A. (1988). Cattle, vegetation, and economic responses to grazing systems and grazing pressure. Rangeland Ecology & Management/Journal of Range Management Archives, 41(4), 282-286.

Manley, J. T., Schuman, G. E., Reeder, J. D., & Hart, R. H. (1995). Rangeland soil carbon and nitrogen responses to grazing. Journal of soil and water conservation, 50(3), 294-298.

Abdel-Magid, A. H., Schuman, G. E., & Hart, R. H. (1987). Soil bulk density and water infiltration as affected by grazing systems. Rangeland Ecology & Management/Journal of Range Management Archives, 40(4), 307-309.

Lecain, D. R., Morgan, J. A., Schuman, G. E., Reeder, J. D., & Hart, R. H. (2000). Carbon exchange rates in grazed and ungrazed pastures of Wyoming. Rangeland Ecology & Management/Journal of Range Management Archives, 53(2), 199-206.

Hart, R. H., Clapp, S., & Test, P. S. (1993). Grazing strategies, stocking rates, and frequency and intensity of grazing on western wheatgrass and blue grama. Rangeland Ecology & Management/Journal of Range Management Archives, 46(2), 122-126.

Hepworth, K. W., Test, P. S., Hart, R. H., Waggoner, J. W., & Smith, M. A. (1991). Grazing systems, stocking rates, and cattle behavior in southeastern Wyoming. Rangeland Ecology & Management/Journal of Range Management Archives, 44(3), 259-262.
Dataset DOI (digital object identifier)
10.15482/USDA.ADC/1528521
Related Content
Grass-Cast Database - Data on aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), climate data, NDVI, and cattle weight gain for Western U.S. rangelands. Ag Data Commons
FieldValue
OSTI Identifier
ISO Topic(s)
environment
farming
State or Territory
Wyoming
National Agricultural Library Thesaurus Term
yearlings
weight gain
pastures
stocking rate
mixed-grass prairies
grazing
forage
beef cattle
rangelands
Wyoming
Ag Data Commons Keywords
  • Animals & Livestock
  • Animal production
  • Range management
  • Animals & Livestock
  • Animal production
  • Animals & Livestock
  • Agroecosystems & Environment
  • Management
  • Agroecosystems & Environment
Program
Long-Term Livestock Production Data

Suggested Citations:

(original article) Derner, J. D., Hart, R. H., Smith, M. A., & Waggoner, J. W. , Jr. (2008). Long-term cattle gain responses to stocking rate and grazing systems in northern mixed-grass prairie. Livestock Science, 117(1), 60-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2007.11.011

(dataset) Derner, Justin D; Clapp, Stanley; Freeman, Pam; Hart, Richard H.; Mortenson, Matt (2023). Data from USDA ARS High Plains Grasslands Research Station (East Unit) near Cheyenne, WY: Yearling cattle weight gains managed in light, moderate and heavily stocked pastures (1982-2022). Ag Data Commons. https://doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/1528521. Accessed 2023-12-07.