Cattle grazing a riparian mountain meadow: Effects of low and moderate stocking density on nutrition, behavior, diet selection, and plant growth response
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Authors: S. A. Huber, M. B. Judkins, L. J. Krysl, T. J. Svejcar, B. W. Hess, and D. W. Holcombe
Date: 1995
Journal: Journal of Animal Science
Volume: 73
Number: 12
Pages: 3752-3765
Summary of Methods: Steers were used to evaluate the effects of stocking density on grazing behavior, dietary selection, forage intake, digesta kinetics, and growth rates of Carex nebraskensis and Juncus balticus in a riparian pasture on upper Big Grizzly Creek in Plumas County, California. Prior to the study, the site was grazed for 2 weeks (June-August) as one pasture of a three-pasture rotational grazing system. Three experimental pastures were created with one of 3 treatments: no grazing (control), grazed to leave 1,500 kg forage/ha (low) and grazed to leave 1,000 kg forage/ha (moderate). Grazing by 12 ruminally canulated and 6 non-canulated steers occurred in May-June (1992) and July-Aug (1993). Within each year, standing crop biomass by clip date, diet botanical and chemical composition (dry matter, ash, nitrogen, neutral detergent fiber, ADF, ADL, and ADIN), grazing behavior and area of use, forage intake, and digesta kinetics were analyzed.
Article Summary / Main Points: Regardless of stock density, early-season (May-June) grazing resulted in higher standing crop measurements on grazed plots than on ungrazed plots, while mid-season (July-August) grazing reduced the standing crop on grazed plots. Stocking density did not change botanical or chemical composition of diet in 1992, but slight changes were seen in 1993 with animals on the low stock density treatment consuming less bluegrass and less grass-like plants than animals on the moderate stock density treatment. Low and moderate stock density did not show any differences in forage intake, passage rate measures, and total time spent loafing. Along streamsides, the grazing time was greater for the low stocking density than for moderate with early-season grazing, while mid-season grazing resulting in more grazing time for moderate stock density than low.
Vegetation Types: Grazed Forest Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: 18 Sierra Nevada Foothills 22A Sierra Nevada Mountains
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Grazing Stocking density
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: cattle, stocking density, forage intake, biomass
Annotation: These findings are applicable for most streamside vegetation in riparian mountain meadow and pastures. The results help in understanding how low and moderate stocking densities affect cattle behavior, intake and dietary selection, as well as plant growth in a riparian pasture system. Public and private land managers can and should add stocking density to the list of tools to minimize the impacts of grazing on riparian area.
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