Cattle Grazing and Behavior on a Forested Range

Abstract

Environmental and topographic parameters on a mountainous forested range were analyzed to establish causes of cattle behavioral responses. Distinct home range groups of cattle were identified through examination of quality and patterns of forage use, cattle distribution, herd social structure, and cattle activities. The home range of one group encompassed only upland areas. Water and vegetation type were important parameters in determining area and degree of use. Vertical distance above water was the most important factor in determining vegetation utilization on moderately steep slopes. Time after sunrise and relative humidity factors were key factors in determining kind and timing of cattle activity. Cattle have been grazing forested ranges in western United States for more than 125 years (United States Senate 1936). Grazing units on the forests have been fenced, restricting livestock to given areas. Fencing placed definite limits on forage and often increased animal concentration on key vegetation types. Some vegetation types were over-utilized while others were left ungrazed. As the demand for more and varied uses of mountain land areas increases, it becomes important to enhance livestock distribution, alleviating concentration problems and minimizing real or potential conflicts with other resource uses. Detailed information assessing the pattern of livestock use, the types and amounts of forage consumed, and livestock distribution is required. This is only baseline information; in order to apply it, one must know the cause and the mechanism of each parameter. Determining causes for observed actions of cattle overlaps range management and applied behavioral sciences. External physical and biotic influences interact with the animal's innate behavioral complex to produce a given response. Measurement of influencing parameters must be matched with the animal response and examined to establish the cause and effect relationship. Distance from water, topography, temperature, humidity, and forage availability have been rated as important parameters in modifying animal behavior. Herd structure is a behavioral factor which could have considerable influence on grazing patterns and forage use. Many researchers have observed a given event and assessed the impact on vegetation, but those observations were often not analyzed in terms of what caused the event. This research was designed to quantitatively define the influences of topography, environment and biotic factors on cattle distribution and grazing habits. Cattle behavioral responses to external factors were described by regression relationships.

Comparing grazing and resting electivity of beef cattle for BC bunchgrass communities using GPS collars

“…Among the US studies only one described cattle community use in a grassland type similar to the one we studied (Roath and Krueger 1982). They found relative forage use was greatest in the bluegrass bottomlands (similar to Poa in this current study), moderate in the adjacent gentle big sageÁSandberg bluegrass slopes (similar to our Hes), and there was less use by cattle in the ponderosa pine/bluebunch wheatgrass community (similar to Pse in our study).…”

“…These early studies often used a combination of field observations and forage utilization patterns as indicators of habitat choice (Roath and Krueger 1982;Senft et al 1985a;Walker et al 1989). The use of radio telemetry (Pinchak et al 1991) increased the number of cattle that could be observed.…”

Changes in Forage Quantity and Quality With Continued Late-Summer Cattle Grazing a Riparian Pasture in Eastern Oregon of United States

“…Willow utilization, as estimated by Kauffman et al (1983a) in the same area, ranged from 27 to 48 %, whereas Smith et al (1992) have observed as much as 57% use. Also, Roath & Krueger (1982) recorded 37% willow and 47% alder use in the early-season grazing and noted that willow was utilized in excess of its percentage availability. The increase in shrub use by cattle observed in our study was likely influenced also, by drought conditions in the summers and, as a result, low succulence, quality, and palatability of herbaceous forages.…”

“…Although, as DelCurto et al (1990) noted late-season distribution problems may exist, which likely related to dormant, senesced upslope vegetation being of lower nutritional value than moist green vegetation available in riparian areas. Moreover, researchers have indicated that wildlife and livestock concentrate riparian areas, creating a substantial impact on browse and herbaceous vegetation (Roath & Krueger, 1982;DelCurto, Porath, Parsons, & Morrison, 2005). But as these researchers pointed out, the impact of grazing on riparian shrubs and herbaceous vegetation can be difficult to assess because information on their response to summer utilization is lacking or sparse.…”

A Contextual Analysis of Land-Use and Vegetation Changes in Two Wooded Pastures in the Swiss Jura Mountains

“…Pasture management has been studied in depth over the years (Heady 1949, Stoddart 1960, Roath and Krueger 1982, Ganskopp 2001. Variation in grazing intensities resulting in spatially heterogeneous habitats is influenced by a variety of factors such as environmental conditions, animal performance, and management methods (Owens et al 1991;Machen 2001, 2002).…”