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SYMPOSIA

Interaction of Plant Species Diversity on Grazing Behavior and Performance of Livestock Grazing Temperate Region Pastures

^a USDA-ARS, Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, University Park, PA 16802-3702
^b Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2SB UK

^* Corresponding author (Kathy.Soder{at}ars.usda.gov)

The importance of plant species diversity on performance of livestock grazing temperate region pastures is summarized in this review. As livestock producers seek less capital-intensive production systems, emphasis is redirected toward low-input pasture systems that rely on complex species mixtures to produce forage. Increased plant species diversity has been linked to improvements in ecosystem function. While it is recognized that grazing management can have a profound impact on sward composition, which in turn can affect grazing behavior and animal performance, the effects of increased plant species diversity on animal productivity (and vice versa) have not been well explored. This review addresses mechanisms by which grazing livestock alter cool-season plant species diversity, mechanisms of diet choice, effects of plant species diversity on animal performance, and implications to sustainable domestic livestock grazing systems. We review evidence for these effects at one trophic level, that of grazing livestock in agroecosystems. While grazing behavior research conducted during the last several decades has led to advances in the understanding of plant–animal interactions, improved knowledge of these interactions is crucial for predicting animal performance. Also important is the evaluation of the impact of grazing livestock on mixed sward dynamics. This knowledge will lead to new opportunities to develop environmentally and economically sustainable grazing systems.

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