Effects of summer sheep grazing on browse nutritive quality of autumn and winter
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Authors: M. J. Alpe, J. L. Kingery, and J. C. Mosley
Date: 1999
Journal: Journal of Wildlife Management
Volume: 63
Number: 1
Pages: 346-354
Summary of Methods: Forage quality was measured after early-summer and late-summer sheep grazing in Idaho pastures to determine the value of summer grazing as a tool to enhance browse nutritive quality for autumn and winter ungulate use. Early summer grazing enhanced the autumn quality of 5 out of 6 browse species measured, whereas late season grazing only increased the autumn quality of one species and decreased the quality of 3 species, when compared to ungrazed control plants. Winter browse quality of 4 out of 6 species was enhanced by early summer grazing, while late season grazing increased the quality of only 1 species and decreased the quality of 2 species, when compared to ungrazed control plants. Based on these results, the authors suggest that sheep grazing can enhance the quality of browse species for autumn and winter wildlife use when applied in the early summer (grazing completed before late June), at moderate levels, in pastures containing browse species that are palatable to sheep.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Scientific Opinion
Keywords: forage quality, nutrition, prescribed grazing, shrubs, ungulates, grazing intensity, grazing season
Annotation: None
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