Observations of cattle use of prairie dog towns
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Authors: D. A. Guenther and J. K. Detling
Date: 2003
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 56
Number: 5
Pages: 410-417
Summary of Methods: Guenther and Detling used vegetation measurements and observations of cattle activity and location to determine cattle use and preference of habitat types in grassland pastures that contained prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) towns (up to 11% habitat composition). Intensive surveys indicated that cattle preferred swale habitat and that prairie dog towns were not preferred but were also not avoided. Vegetation at prairie dog towns was shorter than other habitat types but consisted of preferred species and cattle were observed grazing at a similar rate that they grazed on swale habitat for the majority of their time spent on prairie dog towns. The results indicate that species composition is not negatively affected by prairie dog towns and that cattle will graze in these areas, but not enough to suggest a preference, possibly due to the reduced height of the vegetation.
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: bos taurus, cattle, cynomys ludovicianus, prairie dogs, grazing, shortgrass steppe, habitat preference, site selection
Annotation: Moderate grazing defined by stocking rate of 1.74 ha/cow per month.
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