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Data Extent

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.

FieldValue
Tags
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
Data Dictionary
Contact Name
Derner, Justin
Contact Email
Public Access Level
Public
Program Code
005:040 - Department of Agriculture - National Research
Bureau Code
005:18 - Agricultural Research Service