Evaluating grazing strategies for cattle: Deer forage dynamics
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Authors: I. M. Ortega, S. Soltero-Gardea, F. C. Bryant, and D. L. Drawe
Date: 1997
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 50
Number: 6
Pages: 615-621
Summary of Methods: The effects of cattle and white-tailed deer grazing on vegetation dynamics was studied at the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Refuge in southern Texas (28° 6’ N; 97° 25’ W) for two years. Four treatment combinations of continuous and short-duration livestock grazing systems at heavy and moderate stocking rates were studied. Herbaceous and woody vegetation frequency and production were measured monthly for 22 months, grouped by season and compared to a pre-treatment vegetation index. Climate data was also collected for the duration of the study.
Article Summary / Main Points: Overall, species composition was not affected by grazing in any of the treatments. Under both grazing systems (continuous and short-duration) total vegetation production was similar, while high stocking rates reduced total production. Species impacted the most under heavy grazing were the forages preferred by both cattle and deer. Precipitation also affected production levels.
Vegetation Types: Desert Grasslands
MLRA Ecoregions: 150A Gulf Coast Prairies
Agrovoc Control Words: Grazing Rangelands Ungulates
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: diversity, phytomass, white-tailed deer, odocoileus virginianus, cattle, coastal bend of texas, short-duration grazing, continuous grazing
Annotation: This replicated study conducted over two years and its findings are applicable directly to desert grasslands. Though the underlying principles of this study can be applied to other ecosystems, keep in mind that these results apply specifically to regions of similar topography, climate, and ungulate-plant relationships. Additional research to examined climate affects in conjunction with grazing on vegetation communities is needed. This is one portion of a much larger study where Ortega et al. (1997, J. Range Manag. 50:622-630) examined food partitioning of cattle and white-tailed deer and Ortega et al. (1997, J. Range Manag. 50:631-637) looked at the nutrition of cattle and white-tailed deer. Both of these are available in the RSIS database.
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