Management of forages for stocker cattle

Successful grazing management of stockers requires knowledge of plant growth characteristics. Maintaining abundant leaf area is critical to support photosynthesis and plant growth as well as to provide nutritious grazing for the animals. Controlling stocking rate, stock density, and lengths of grazing and recovery periods can optimize individual animal rates of gain and gain per acre while maintaining pasture productivity. Various plant resources, perennial and annual, can be used strategically to provide the quantity and quality of forage needed by stockers throughout the year.