Abstract
Results of surveys concerning the amount of forage taken by cattle in grazing pasture, the method of estimating forage intake by body weight measurement and the effect of grazing on the grassland as follows: 1) In estimating forage intake by body weight measurement method, it was appropriate to obtain exact mount of dung and urine excreted which should be supplemented by the body weight decrease during grazing. 2) Forage intake of grazing plots of various grazing intesity compared with the amount of forage clipped at the same time was 65.5% at 40% grazing intensity, 83.6% at 60% level and 88.8% at 80% level respectively, showing the higher the grazing intensity the smaller the difference between the amount taken and the amount clipped. 3) Forage intake per hour was observed to be 2.2%±0.9 of the body weight in the morning and 1.6%±0.7 in the afternoon, the rate of forage intake being 120-160k.g. per are at about 20c. 4) The rate of Mehishiba (Digitaria adscendens (H. B. K.) HENR.) invasion in July through August was higher in accordance with grazing intensity but in grazed plot it was lower than non-grazed plot. 5) The amount of dung and urine returned to pasture for each grazing treatment was highest at 80% grazing intensity plot, The amount per are being 105kg. in which N: 0.5kg., P_2O_5 0.2kg. and K_2O 0.6kg. were contained. As a measure to control unedible over-grown area, disposal of dung was tried with less effective results. considering the dung distribution on pasture during grazing, restricted grazing of about one hour at a time was recognized to be proper as pasture utilization method by intensive grazing system. 6) Degee of soil compactness by grazing was increased accrding to increased grazing intensity' reaching 10cm. deep under soil surface.
