The impact of long-term precipitation trends on animal performance on the Santa Rita Experimental Rang | Posted on:2002-05-17 | Degree:M.S | Type:Thesis | University:The University of Arizona | Candidate:McGibbon, Andrew William | Full Text:PDF | GTID:2460390014451669 | Subject:Animal sciences | Abstract/Summary: | | Beef production in the arid Southwest depends on range forages. Forage quality and quantity primarily results from amount, intensity and timing of precipitation. Twenty-three years (1978--2000) of precipitation and animal production data were evaluated. Two major questions addressed were: Does rainfall timing affect number and weight of calves weaned? Does grazing system reduce immediate drought impact on calf production? Three grazing systems were evaluated: Year-round grazing, Savory rotational grazing and Santa Rita rotational grazing (50--60hd, 80--150hd and 50--65hd/year respectively). Winter (P < 0.05), summer (P < 0.01) and previous fall (P < 0.01) precipitation affected calf crop. Only summer precipitation (P < 0.01) had a significant effect on weaning weight. Calf crop did vary between grazing systems (P < 0.01). Savory system had the heaviest weaning weight, total production, and lowest maintenance cost; followed by Santa Rita and year-round respectively (P < 0.01). Maintenance cost per kg calf weaned was similar between rotational systems, but higher in year-round (P < 0.01). | Keywords/Search Tags: | Santa rita, Precipitation, Production, Calf | | Related items |
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