Cattle herbage utilization patterns under high-density rotational grazing in the Aspen Parkland

Asamoah, S. A.; Bork, Edward W.; Irving, Barry; Price, M. A.; Hudson, Robert J.

doi:10.4141/a02-026

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 30 publications

(41 reference statements)

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“…Here we observed that Carex nigra, C. rostrata, C. lasiocarpa, C. vaginata and C. canescens were heavily grazed. These species are known to be valuable and nutrient-rich, especially with regard to protein concentration, and preferred by cattle in these types of pasture (Garmo 1986;Rekdal 2001;Asamoah et al 2003;Saether, Sickel, et al 2006;Jørgensen et al 2012).…”

Section: Parametermentioning

confidence: 96%

Effects of breed on foraging sites and diets in dairy cows on mountain pasture

Hessle

Dahlström

Bele

et al. 2014

International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Servic

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Biodiverse semi-natural pastures are threatened because of sub-optimal grazing. Breed effects on choice of foraging vegetation type, diet and hence pasture management was investigated in dairy cows kept on mountain pastures. Five dairy cows each from the traditional Swedish Mountain breed and the commercial Holstein breed were equipped with GPS receivers measuring animal position for 6 h daily grazing time during 6 days. Plant groups in ingested vegetation were recorded visually for 30 min per cow and day. The grazing area, mapped using infra-red aerial photography combined with field work, consisted of ten vegetation types dominated by bilberry forest (33%), mixed forest (28%) and grass and sedge fen (12%). Although grass-dominated pasture comprised only 0.3% of the area, the cows spent, on average, 27% of their time there. Swedish Mountain cows spent less time in grass-dominated pasture than Holsteins (24% vs. 31%, p = 0.035). Swedish Mountains also travelled longer distances (6.3 vs. 5.0 km, p = 0.016) and were scattered over longer distances from other cows (419 vs. 259 m, p = 0.011). This limited study revealed a general selection of grass-dominated pasture, but indicated that using traditional breeds can result in better management of other vegetation types.

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Section: Parametermentioning

confidence: 96%

Effects of breed on foraging sites and diets in dairy cows on mountain pasture

Hessle

Dahlström

Bele

et al. 2014

International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Servic

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“…North-facing slopes support vegetation with greater moisture requirements such as shrublands and deciduous forest, while south-facing slopes support plant communities tolerant of drier conditions such as grasslands (Coupland 1961;Wheeler 1976). Late summer dry matter herbage production from upland grassland, riparian meadow and forest vegetation averages 2062, 4862 and 1743 kg.ha -1 , respectively (Asamoah et al 2003). The major vegetation types found across the study area and of interest in this investigation are as follows:…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 97%

Characterization of diverse plant communities in Aspen Parkland rangeland using LiDAR data

Bork

2007

Applied Vegetation Science

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Question: How effective is high‐resolution airborne LiDAR technology for quantifying biophysical characteristics of multiple community types within diverse rangeland environments? Location: Native Aspen Parkland vegetation in central Alberta, Canada. Methods: Vegetation within 117 reference plots stratified across eight types, including forest, shrubland, upland grassland and lowland meadow communities, were assessed in 2001 for the height, cover and density of vegetation within various strata (herb, shrub and tree layers). Actual ground data were subsequently compared against modelled values for each community type and strata derived from the analysis of airborne LiDAR data obtained in 2000. Results: LiDAR data were effective for quantifying vegetation height, cover and density of the overstory within closed‐ and open Populus forest communities. However, LiDAR measurements typically underestimated the height and cover of shrublands, as well as most of the herbaceous communities. Analysis of LiDAR intensity data indicated reflectance generally decreased as LiDAR sampling points moved upwards from the ground to the vegetation canopy. Conclusions: While LiDAR technology is useful for characterizing deciduous forest properties, the quantification of understory vegetation characteristics, as well as those of individual shrublands and grasslands, was more limiting. Further refinements in analysis methods are necessary to increase the reliability of characterizing these communities.

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Disentangling herbivore impacts on Populus tremuloides: a comparison of native ungulates and cattle in Canada’s Aspen Parkland

et al. 2013

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Ungulates impact woody species' growth and abundance but little is understood about the comparative impacts of different ungulate species on forest expansion in savanna environments. Replacement of native herbivore guilds with livestock [i.e., beef cattle (Bos taurus)] has been hypothesized as a factor facilitating trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) encroachment into grasslands of the Northern Great Plains. We used a controlled herbivory study in the Parklands of western Canada to compare the impact of native ungulates and cattle on aspen saplings. Native ungulate treatments included a mixed species guild and sequences of herbivory by different ungulates [bison (Bison bison subsp. bison), elk (Cervus elaphus) then deer (Odocoileus hemionus); or deer, elk, then bison]. Herbivory treatments were replicated in three pastures, within which sets of 40 marked aspen saplings (<1.8 m) were tracked along permanent transects at 2-week intervals, and compared to a non-grazed aspen stand. Stems were assessed for mortality and incremental damage (herbivory, leader breakage, stem abrasion and trampling). Final mortality was greater with exposure to any type of herbivore, but remained similar between ungulate treatments. However, among all treatments, the growth of aspen was highest with exposure only to cattle. Herbivory of aspen was attributed primarily to elk within the native ungulate treatments, with other forms of physical damage, and ultimately sapling mortality, associated with exposure to bison. Overall, these results indicate that native ungulates, specifically elk and bison, have more negative impacts on aspen saplings and provide evidence that native and domestic ungulates can have different functional effects on woody plant dynamics in savanna ecosystems.

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Cattle herbage utilization patterns under high-density rotational grazing in the Aspen Parkland

Cited by 10 publications

References 30 publications

Effects of breed on foraging sites and diets in dairy cows on mountain pasture

Effects of breed on foraging sites and diets in dairy cows on mountain pasture

Characterization of diverse plant communities in Aspen Parkland rangeland using LiDAR data

Disentangling herbivore impacts on Populus tremuloides: a comparison of native ungulates and cattle in Canada’s Aspen Parkland

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