Prescribed sheep grazing to suppress cheatgrass: a review
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Authors: J. C. Mosley
Date: 1996
Journal: Sheep and Goat Research Journal
Volume: 12
Number: 2
Pages: 74-81
Summary of Methods: This paper is a synthesis of 63 studies examining the ecology of cheatgrass and the use of controlled sheep grazing as a cheatgrass control method.
Article Summary / Main Points: • The physical attributes of sheep (narrow mouth, and relatively large capacity digestive tract in relation body size), gregarious nature and herd management strategies make sheep well suited for prescription grazing. • Sheep grazing can be designed to decrease cheatgrass abundance, benefit perennial herbs, decrease fire hazard, and/or improve chances of subsequent perennial seedings. • Proper timing of grazing is critical to the success of cheatgrass control; plants must be grazed in the spring to while rosettes are more palatable than other species and before seeds begin to turn purple. • Prescription grazing can reduce the reproductive ability of cheatgrass, increase the amount of nutrients and water available for perennial species, reduce the amount of litter, and alter the length of fire-interval. • The ensure perennial species are not damaged by grazing timing has to be very carefully controlled and monitored; More intensive grazing can be easily applied to sites with no desired perennials present. • Optimal cheatgrass control is achieved with two, one week grazing periods, followed by a one- to three-week rest period in the early spring, after rosettes have greened up and are accessible by sheep.
Vegetation Types: All Vegetation Types
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Weed control Grazing Controlled grazing
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Scientific Synthesis
Keywords: downy brome, bromus tectorum, weed control, range management, targeted grazing
Annotation: This synthesis summarizes the effects of cheatgrass grazing by sheep and the specifics of a grazing prescription in relation to the desired outcome. Frost and Launchbaugh (2003, Rangelands 25:43-47, available in the RSIS database) also highlighted the importance of animal selection, timing, intensity and frequency of grazing as part of a successful grazing prescription.
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