Influence of Cow Age on Grazing Distribution in a Mixed-Conifer Forest

Walburger, Kenric; Wells, Micah; Vávra, Martin; DelCurto, Timothy; Johnson, Bruce K.; Coe, Pricilla

doi:10.2111/08-163r1.1

Cited by 23 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(67 reference statements)

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“…Therefore, it is likely that grazing behavior may vary with individual animal protein supplement intake, age, body weight and condition in dormant season grazing systems. However, interactions of exogenous factors with endogenous attributes on grazing behavior are less understood [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dormant season grazing on northern mixed grass prairie agroecosystems: Does protein supplement intake, cow age, weight and body condition impact beef cattle resource use and residual vegetation cover?

et al. 2020

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Dormant season livestock grazing reduces reliance on harvested feeds, but typically requires protein supplementation to maintain animal performance. Individual variation in supplement intake can impact animal performance; however, it is unknown if this variation leads to individual or herd-level effects on grazing behavior, resource utilization, and grazing impacts to native rangelands. To examine effects of protein supplementation on dormant season cattle resource use and, subsequently, post-grazing habitat conditions, we examined cattle grazing behavior, resource utilization and biomass removal of vegetation on a native rangeland in Montana. A commercial herd of 272 (yr 1) and 302 (yr 2) cows grazed a 329-ha rangeland pasture from November to January. Intake of a 30% crude protein supplement was measured for each individual. Five individuals within each of six age groups were equipped with GPS collars. Time spent grazing declined with supplement intake (b = −0.05 ± 0.02; P < 0.01). Distance traveled per day had a positive asymptotic association with supplement intake (b = 0.35 ± 0.09; P < 0.01). On average, resource utilization by cattle grazing dormant season forage decreased with terrain ruggedness (b = −0.09 ± 0.03), but was unrelated to aspect, temperature and wind speed. Notably, we observed high individual variability in resource utilization for elevation, distance from supplement and water. A post-hoc analysis suggested that individual attributes (age, body weight, supplement intake) influenced cattle resource use. At moderate stocking rates, dormant season livestock grazing did not affect residual vegetation conditions (P values > 0.22). However, residual cover of forbs and litter increased with relative grazing intensity (b = 1.04 ± 0.41;b = 3.06 ± 0.89; P � 0.05). In summary, high individual variability in grazing resource utilization of cattle suggests individuallevel factors could be the dominant drivers in grazing behavior and landscape use.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dormant season grazing on northern mixed grass prairie agroecosystems: Does protein supplement intake, cow age, weight and body condition impact beef cattle resource use and residual vegetation cover?

et al. 2020

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“…Supplementation strategies assume that all animals consume a target quantity of supplement and deviation from the target intake can have deleterious effects on animal performance, reflected as decreased profit for the producer (Bowman and Sowell, 1997). Cow age has been shown to be an influential factor effecting individual supplement intake and foraging behavior (Adams et al, 1986;Kincheloe et al, 2004;Walburger et al, 2009). Therefore, understanding how late gestational nutrition of beef cattle grazing extensive rangeland environments influences subsequent colostrum quality at birth is important for calf health, survival and overall ranch production.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Techniques to Estimate Colostrum Quality and the Effects of Cow Age and Pre-Partum Supplement Intake Levels on Colostrum Quality and Serum IgG Levels

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Wyffels

Parsons

et al. 2020

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This study evaluated cow age and supplement intake level during gestation on the quality of colostrum at calving, cow serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels at parturition, and serum IgG levels of the calf 3-days post-partum using two refractometer methods. Forty-five multiparous Angus cows were selected from a contemporary group of 300 cows that were winter grazing northern mixed grass prairie rangelands with free choice protein supplement. Specifically, 15 first service bred cows were selected for each of the following winter grazing supplement intake treatment groups: 1) low supplement intake (> -0.75 SD); 2) average supplement intake (± 0.50 SD); 3) high supplement intake (> +0.75 SD). Supplement intakes were measured using a SmartFeed Pro self-feeder system with 8 feeding units. Measurements were obtained from day 164 to 215 of gestation. Cows were further divided by age comparing young (4, 5, and 6 yr) to old (7, 8 and 9 yr). The results of this study suggest that cow age did not interact with supplement intake for colostrum or blood serum measurements (P ≥ 0.29). In addition, cow age and supplement intake did not influence colostrum Brix %, calf serum total protein, or cow serum total protein taken at birth (P ≥ 0.14). The optical refractometer was found to be a good alternative to the more expensive digital refractometer (P < 0.01; R = .96). In summary, cow age and supplement intake levels of mature cows during the mid to late stages of gestation did not influence colostrum quality at birth.

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“…Sights-based multiple regression models (Cook 1966, Senft et al 1985 were pioneers in disentangling some factors influencing patterns on cattle grazing, but data collection is laborious and it is impossible to apply to feral cattle. The GPS-based logistic regression approach used by Walburger et al (2009) and previous studies, models the habitat use by cattle as a binary response and therefore, it does not allow for modeling the utilization distribution of the animals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Supplemental Information 1: Complete Data Set With Landscape Attributes and Animal Records

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While the presence of cattle in forests is quite common, how they use this habitat is often overlooked. When this is examined, most studies focus on measurements of the vegetation variables influencing habitat selection. This current report provides a suitable model to study habitat use by livestock in forested areas by means of GPS tracking on selected individuals. The model was applied to data from semi-feral cattle in order to obtain the first description of their habitat use in southern forests. Furthermore, the model accounted for individual variability, and hinted at population patterns of habitat use. The positions of 15 individual cows with GPS collars were recorded covering twelve months in a Nothofagus (southern beech) forest in Patagonia (Argentina). By projecting these GPS location data into a geographical information system (GIS), a resource selection probability function (RSPF) that considers topographic and vegetation variables was built. The habitat selection by semi-feral cattle in southern beech forests showed a large interindividual variability, but also some similar characteristics which enable a proper description of habitat-use patterns. It was found that habitat selection by cattle was mainly affected by topographic variables such as altitude and the combination of slope and aspect. In both cases the variables were selected below average relative to availability, suggesting a preferred habitat range. Livestock also tended to avoid areas of closed shrublands and showed a slight preference for meadows. Cattle give significant importance to topographic variables to define their habitat selection in this type of mountainous forests. This might be because of an ecological adaptation to the major features of these types of forests due to ferality. Furthermore, these results are the basis for management applications such as predictive maps of use by semi-feral livestock in forested landscapes.

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Influence of Cow Age on Grazing Distribution in a Mixed-Conifer Forest

Cited by 23 publications

References 34 publications

Dormant season grazing on northern mixed grass prairie agroecosystems: Does protein supplement intake, cow age, weight and body condition impact beef cattle resource use and residual vegetation cover?

Dormant season grazing on northern mixed grass prairie agroecosystems: Does protein supplement intake, cow age, weight and body condition impact beef cattle resource use and residual vegetation cover?

Techniques to Estimate Colostrum Quality and the Effects of Cow Age and Pre-Partum Supplement Intake Levels on Colostrum Quality and Serum IgG Levels

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