Mob grazing, which uses very high stocking densities for short durations followed by a relatively long rest period, was designed to mimic bison (Bison bison) grazing in western U.S. grassland. This project assessed the suitability of mob grazing for livestock production in the Northeast. Objectives were to compare the effects of mob and rotational grazing on dry matter (DM) mass, nutritive value, and botanical composition across four grazing seasons. Eight, 0.10‐ha paddocks were established in 2014 as a randomized complete block with four replications, and seeded with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), narrowleaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.), and tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort]. Mob‐grazed (MOB) paddocks were grazed by yearling beef cattle twice each year, (70–90–day interval), and rotationally grazed (ROT) paddocks were grazed four to six times each year (when sward height reached 25 cm). Cumulative pre‐grazing forage biomass (PGFM) of ROT was greater than MOB in three of four years. At the final grazing, the PGFM of ROT exceeded MOB by 2,500 kg ha⁻¹. Within year, PGFM of ROT was more consistent, varying by only 1,000–1,400 kg DM ha⁻¹ compared with 1,800–2,800 kg DM ha⁻¹ for MOB. Grazing strategy altered botanical composition; ROT favored grasses while MOB favored alfalfa. Forage fiber content was consistently lower in ROT than MOB paddocks, indicating superior nutritive value. Results suggest rotational grazing is likely suitable for more consistent forage production of greater nutritive value in temperate, cool‐season grass‐legume pastures of the northeastern United States.

中文翻译：

---

暴动和轮牧影响牧草生物量，营养价值和物种组成

暴民放牧在短期内使用很高的放养密度，随后又有相对长的休息时间，其目的是模仿美国西部草原上的野牛（野牛野牛）。该项目评估了东北地区暴民放牧对畜牧业的适宜性。目的是比较暴食和轮牧对四个放牧季节干物质（DM）质量，营养价值和植物组成的影响。2014年建立了8个面积为0.10公顷的围场，作为一个随机完整的块，重复了四次，并播种了苜蓿（Medicago sativa L.），白三叶草（Trifolium repens L.），果园（Dactylis glomerata L.），窄叶大蕉（车前草L.）和高羊茅[ Schedonorus arundinaceus（Schreb。）Dumort]。每年对一头肉牛（MOB）的牧场进行放牧，两次对一岁的肉牛（间隔70-90天）进行放牧，每年对轮牧（ROT）的牧场进行四至六次放牧（当草高达到25 cm时）。在四年的三年中，ROT的放牧前牧草生物量（PGFM）大于MOB。在最后放牧时，ROT的PGFM比MOB高出2500 kg ha ^-1。在一年内，ROT的PGFM更一致，相差仅1,000–1,400 kg DM ha ^-1，而1,800–2,800 kg DM ha ^-1用于MOB。放牧策略改变了植物组成；ROT偏爱草，而MOB偏爱苜蓿。饲草中的饲草纤维含量始终低于MOB围场，表明其营养价值更高。结果表明，轮转放牧很可能适合在美国东北部的温带，凉爽季节的豆类草场生产更稳定，更有价值的牧草。