Abstract
A-2-year study was conducted to evaluate productivity of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.)-dominant pastures continuously stocked by cattle in northern Tohoku, Japan. Grazing capacity averaged 668 cow-days ha^<-1> with a grazing period of about 190 days from late April to late October or early November. Annual herbage yield (measured only in the second year) was 10,754kg DM ha^<-1> . Chemical composition of herbage such as TDN, CP, Ca, Mg, P, K and NO_3-N concentrations and K/(Ca+Mg) ratio (measured also only in the second year) showed sufficient levels for animal growth and health. The results show that kentucky bluegrass pastures are of potential value for continuous stocking with breeding beef cows due to high vegetation persistency and productivity and sufficient herbage quality.
