Cattle Diets and Distribution on Spring–fall and Summer Ranges Near Kamloops, British Columbia

Abstract

McLeaN, A. eNo wrr-lus, w. lgjj. cattle diets and distribution on spring-fall and summer ranges near Kamloops, British columbia. can. J. Anirn. scl. 57: 81-92.A 2-yr investigation of the herd distribution and diet selection of beef cattle on range was conducted near Kamloops, British Columbia. Two ranges were studied: one grazed in spring and fall, and the other in summer. Diet selection was determined by Srazrng two rumen-fistulated beef cattle, by clipping plots before and after grazing on the spring-fall range, and by conducting browse surveys on the summer range. Cattle distribution was determined on the spring-fall range. During the 2 yr , the diet composition averaged 937o flrass, 2o/c forbs,27c shrubs, and 3To trees. Grass was consumed more in the spring (95Vo) than in either summer or fall (93 and 92Vo, respectively). Interseasonal change in the consumption of the four plant types (grass, forbs, shrubs,.trees) was greatest in the summer and fall. In the summer, consumption of forbs and trees increased, while consumption of grasses remained constant and consumption of shrubs decreased. In the fall, grass and shrub consumption increased, while forb and tree consumption decreased. Three open range habitats (south slope, knoll, flat field) and one treed habitat were defined-for distribution studies. The south slope and flat field were utilized for feeding, while the knoll and treed habitats were used for both resting and feeding. The treed habitat was most important in providing shelter from adverse weather. Grazing intensity was generally less on the treed habitat than on the others. (1957) and Mclean (1970 (Table 2). Intensity of use was considerably greater in the flat field.Crested wheatgrass was used to the greatest degree during this period and contributed more than any other species (Table 3).Other important contributors to the diet were needle-and-thread srass and bluebunch wheatgrass.During the fall of 1973 grazing period, grass availability was not significantly different among habitats and more grass was used on the south slope than on other habitats. However, the tree habitat contributed most to total utilization (Table 2).Grass use in the spring of 1974 was more uniform among habitats than during the previous periods. Consequently, the habitat contribution to forage utilized was more closely related to the size of habitat. Thus, bluebunch wheatgrass in the treed habitat contributed most to the diet (Table 3) (Table increased (Table 5). On summer range in 5). In the fall, however, grass consumption (Table 7).2.4Vo, respectively. Analyses of the rumen More cattle were sighted on the southcontents suggest that the most highly facing slope in the second fall than in the

Elk, Mule Deer, and Cattle Foraging Relationships on Foothill and Mountain Rangeland

“…The grass-dominated diets of cattle and elk reported in this study (Table 1) agree with results from previous studies on foothill and mountain rangeland in the northern Rocky Mountains (Stevens 1966;Miller and Krueger 1976;McLean and Willms 1977;Skovlin and Vavra 1979;Berg and Hudson 1982;Kasworm et al 1984;Vavra et al 1989;Ngugi et al 1992). For elk, graminoids were an especially important dietary component in winter and spring (66% and 72%, respectively; Table 1).…”

Bluebunch Wheatgrass Response to Spring Defoliation on Foothill Rangeland

“…For example, elk in spring and cattle in summer exhibited 61% foraging niche overlap in a recent study on foothill rangeland in northwestern Wyoming (Torstenson et al 2006). In that study, elk in spring and cattle in summer consumed graminoiddominated diets (72% and 91% of their diets, respectively), which is similar to the results found in other studies on foothill and mountain rangeland in the northern Rocky Mountains (Stevens 1966;Miller and Kreuger 1976;McLean and Willms 1977;Skovlin and Vavra 1979;Kasworm et al 1984;Ngugi et al 1992).…”

Effect of Burning or Clipping Agropyron spicatum in the Autumn on the Spring Foraging Behaviour of Mule Deer and Cattle

“…These communities are represented in major proportions, in south-central British Columbia, on ranges occupied by cattle in both late spring and autumn and by deer in early spring. Bluebunch wheatgrass contributes the greatest proportion to the diet of cattle (McLean & Willms 1977) and a large proportion to the diet of deer (Willms & McLean 1978) in these communities.…”