27 years of livestock production data under different stocking rate levels at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota

The effects of stocking rate on livestock performance and profitability were monitored on 12 pastures at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center (CGREC) near Streeter, ND from 1989 through 2015. These data were produced from an investigation of how the impacts of grazing intensity on native range, in addition to an economic component, was included to determine grazing intensity effect on animal production. Cattle were raised at the CGREC or purchased at auction. Livestock cattle breeds are unknown, but can be described as either yearling open heifer, bred heifers or all steers. 1994 was the only year when the herds were mixed sexes. A table of stocking history is available with this data package as a supplemental dataset called: StockingHistory1989-2015.csv. Information on pasture acreage and the proportion of acres in various ecological range sites, as well as stocking rates, are included as supplemental datasets and are called, respectively: Pasture_and_RangeSites.csv and Revised_AUM_Cals.csv
This data package supports papers reporting the response of livestock performance as ADG (average daily weight gain) and production as weight gain per unit land area to cattle grazing on northern mixed-grass prairie in south-central North Dakota that was subsequently invaded by Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) in 1995. Grazing traditionally occurred mid-May until mid-October in 12 pastures, each approximately 30 acres. The goal of managing grazing intensity was to leave a certain percentage of forage produced in that year OR relative to an average year on the pasture. This was achieved by adjusting stocking rate (i.e. number of individuals per area) within each pasture. When necessary as in 2015, animals were supplemented with dried distiller’s grain at .3% of body weight each day. An animal unit month was used to determine stocking rates and is defined as the forage required to sustain a 1,000 lb cow and her calf for one month. This assumes they require 26 lbs/day of forage on a dry matter basis. This forage amount was based on metabolic weight of animals in this study, including a 1200lb cow as 1.147 AUMs and a 700 lb steer or open heifer as.765 AUM. Five grazing intensities included: no grazing, light grazing (1.3 animal unit months [AUM] · ha-1 with 65% of forage left in the fall), moderate grazing (2.7 AUM · ha-1 with 50% of forage left in the fall), heavy grazing (4.4 AUM · ha-1 with 35% of forage left in fall), and extreme grazing (6.9 AUM · ha-1 with 20% of forage left in the fall).

Resources in this dataset:
Resource Title: Descriptions of pasture and rangelands sites.
File Name: Pasture_and_RangeSites.csv
Resource Description: These data are supplemental to livestock production and provide descriptions of pasture and rangeland ecological sites on which cattle grazed.

Resource Title: Data dictionary for descriptions of pasture and rangelands sites.
File Name: Pasture_and_RangeSites_DataDict.csv
Resource Description: Column header definitions for descriptions of pasture and rangelands sites

Resource Title: Stocking history (1989-2015) for pastures at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota .
File Name: StockingHistory1989-2015.csv
Resource Description: These are supplemental data to describe stocking history (1989-2015) for pastures at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota

Resource Title: Data dictionary for the stocking history (1989-2015) for pastures at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota .
File Name: StockingHistory1989-2015_DataDict.csv
Resource Description: Column headers defined for the stocking history (1989-2015) for pastures at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota

Resource Title: Stocking rates (1989-2015) for pastures at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota .
File Name: AUM_Calcs_AUMperAcre.csv
Resource Description: Stocking rates (1989-2015) for pastures at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota reported for each grazing treatment in acres required to provide forage, as well as a mean stocking rate calculated with AUM/acre and as the inverse of the number of acres provided.

Resource Title: Data dictionary for stocking rates (1989-2015) for pastures at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota .
File Name: AUM_Calcs_DataDict_AUMperAcre.csv
Resource Description: Column headers defined for stocking rates (1989-2015) for pastures at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota

Resource Title: 27 years of livestock production data under different stocking rate levels at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota .
File Name: Streeter-ND_1989-2015_compiled.csv
Resource Description: Compiled data for 27 years of livestock production data under different stocking rate levels at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota. Multiple data dictionaries are available to supplement these data, including descriptions of ecological sites, the stocking history, and stocking rates for each grazing treatment.

Resource Title: Data dictionary for 27 years of livestock production data under different stocking rate levels at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota .
File Name: Streeter-ND_1989-2015_compiled_DataDict.csv
Resource Description: Columns headers defined for compiled 27 years of livestock production data under different stocking rate levels at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, North Dakota