The scale at which populations use the landscape influences ecological processes and management decisions. Dispersal and home-range size define the scale of landscape use for many large-mammal species. We measured dispersal and home-range size of yearling male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in southern Texas, and compared our results to values from the literature to understand the implications of dispersal in management of deer populations. We used radiotelemetry to monitor 22 yearling deer on 1 study site from October 1998 to October 1999, and 27 yearling deer on a second study site from October 1999 to October 2000. On the 2 study sites, 68% and 44% of yearling deer established new areas of use 4.4 ± 1.0 km and 8.2 ± 4.3 km, respectively, from the center of their autumn home range. Yearling males with spike antlers (2 points) were less likely to disperse than yearlings with fork antlers (>2 points) on 1 study site. Computer simulation showed that the scale at which deer use the landscape is large compared to property sizes in southern Texas and probably in other areas of the whitetailed deer's range. Differences in scale between land ownership patterns and landscape use by deer may result in a failure to meet management objectives and conflict among managers. High harvest rates for male deer occur in part because deer movements are large relative to property size, creating a "tragedy of the commons." Cooperative management groups are beneficial if all landowners in an area agree on management objectives. Otherwise, deerproof fences often are erected to reduce conflicts among property owners. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 69(1):366-376; 2005
Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) shows potential for use in grazing systems. Information is needed regarding the productivity and quality of chicory forage in midlatitude states of the USA. Forage yield and quality of chicory under several levels of N fertilization were determined in a Kentucky field experiment. Plots were established during late spring on a silt loam soil (fine‐silty, mixed, mesic Typic Paleudult) and received 0, 50, 100, 150, or 200 kg ha−1 of fertilizer N annually in two equal portions. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Herbage was harvested four times each year at 5‐wk intervals. With N fertilization, chicory produced maximum dry matter yields of 7.8 and 5.6 Mg ha−1 in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Increasing N level produced linear increases in first‐harvest yields and linear or quadratic increases at the third harvest, during midsummer, but N effects persisted only during the first growth period after application. Chicory forage was high in moisture: ≥850 g kg−1 in first‐harvest forage, which often increased with increasing N level. Chicory remained almost completely vegetative, and forage quality was consistently high. Nitrogen concentration averaged 22.9 and 22.3 g kg−1 in 1992 and 1993, respectively, and was affected by N fertilization primarily at the first harvest. Chicory forage exceeded 640 g kg−1 in vitro dry matter disappearance and remained below 400 in neutral‐detergent fiber concentration throughout the study. Chicory established rapidly and persisted well. Nitrogen‐fertilized chicory produced high midseason yields of highquality forage, suggesting that this species could supplement cool‐season grasses. The high rate and extent of N recovery found for chicory warrants further research to determine optimum N fertilization regimes.
Differences in morphological development have been reported among bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) cultivars. Relationships of harvest management to these developmental differences and subsequent forage production and nutritive value have not been characterized. A 2‐yr study was initiated by harvesting ‘Argentine’, ‘Pensacola’, and ‘Tifton 9’ bahiagrass every 20, 30, or 40 d from mid‐May until mid‐September. Objectives were to determine if differences exist among these cultivars for leafiness, morphological development, forage mass, and forage nutritive value, and to determine if differences were affected by harvest frequency and season of growth. Leaf percentage by weight, inflorescence development, forage nutritive value, and forage mass were evaluated for monocultures of the three cultivars. Argentine had a greater (P 0.01) percent leaf (87.2%) than did Pensacola (80.4%) or Tifton 9 (81.0%). In addition, Argentine and Tifton 9 produced fewer (P = 0.01) inflorescences at 20‐ and 30‐d harvest frequencies than did Pensacola. Leaf percentage was greater (P = 0.01) at 20‐ (88.7%) than at 30‐ (78.6%) and 40‐d (81.4%) harvest frequencies. There were cultivar × plant part interactions (P < 0.05) for neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and lignin, but differences were detected only in the stem component. No differences (P ≤ 0.05) were detected among cultivars for other nutritive value variables. Total forage mass was similar (P ≤ 0.05) among cultivars. Differences in forage mass were detected (P = 0.01) only at the first harvest, where Argentine produced less forage (1.9 Mg ha−1) than Pensacola (3.1 Mg ha−1) or Tifton 9 (2.9 Mg ha−1). The combination of greater leaf percentage and fewer inflorescences indicate that Argentine could have potential advantages as a forage over other bahiagrass cultivars.
Ingestive behavior of cattle (Bos taurus L.) grazing chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) has not been elucidated. Adult Angus cows were utilized to measure ingestive behavior over a range of allowances (2.53-5.17 kg cow-~ h-~) on vegetative chicory (cv. Grasslands Puna) growing on a Maury silt loam (fine, mixed, mesic, Typic Paleudalf) soil. A changeover design employing difference procedures was used with tethered animals to evaluate allowance effects on forage quality of available, consumed and residual herbage as well as rate of biting and dry matter intake. Pre-and post-grazing herbage mass and quality were determined in three 10-cm strata above a 5-cm stubble. Cattle consumed about 66% of the available herbage at each allowance level during a 1-h grazing meal. In vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) ranged from 719 to 746 g kg-~ across the three canopy strata prior to and after grazing. Nitrogen concentration increased from 26 to 47 g kg-~ from the lower to upper canopy stratum. Herbage intake rate increased from 1.7 kg h-~ at the lowest allowance to 3.6 kg h-~ at the highest, in response to a linear increase in intake per bite. Biting rate was unaffected by herbage allowance. High dry matter intake per feeding station and a relatively low number of feeding stations visited per meal suggest that chicory was not grazed in distinct horizons. Together with high intake rates, the high and uniform quality of chicory canopies indicate that this species could be useful for livestock having high nutrient and dry matter intake requirements.
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