Hierarchical foraging models: Effects of stocking and landscape composition on simulated resource use by cattle
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Authors: R. L. Senft
Date: 1989
Journal: Ecological Modelling
Volume: 46
Number: 4
Pages: 283-303
Summary of Methods: The author used a hierarchical forage model that included the effects of palatability and availability of food plants to predict cattle grazing use of shortgrass steppe species. Validation data was from a study by the same author and another study by Vavra et al. (1977). When the model was verified, values were robust across shortgrass pasture types. Agropyron smithii was the most palatable herbage category and forbs and shrubs were the least palatable categories. The model results suggested that habitat use was biased towards areas with higher standing crop. As stocking rates were increased in the model, predicted consumption of palatable herbage categories decreased and consumption on unpalatable categories increased. Palatability measurements in this model is vegetation-type specific, but could change with a different species mix.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: forage models, palatability, limiting biomass, hierarchical models, landscape composition, grazing management
Annotation: Recommended stocking was that required for consumption and trampling of, on average, 50% of current growth (1.0 AUM/ha).
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