Seasonal Divergence of Landscape Use by Heritage and Conventional Cattle on Desert Rangeland

Spiegal, Sheri; Estell, Richard E.; Cibils, Andrés F.; James, Darren; Peinetti, H. Raul; Browning, Dawn M.; Romig, Kirsten B.; González, Alfredo; Lyons, Andrew; Bestelmeyer, Brandon T.

doi:10.1016/j.rama.2019.02.008

Cited by 38 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 42 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A more even space use is expected in smaller paddocks and at higher stocking density (49), but Highland cattle spread more evenly than would be expected based on paddock size and stocking. The differences in movement behavior among breeds go along with Spiegal et al (50), who found a traditional cattle breed visiting more different places than a high-productive breed, which preferred the hotspots more clearly. As Highland cattle spread more evenly, they comply with farmers' ambitions to utilize remote or unattractive parts of their land.…”

Section: Movement Behavioral Characteristics Are Allometrically Relatmentioning

confidence: 60%

Grazing Allometry: Anatomy, Movement, and Foraging Behavior of Three Cattle Breeds of Different Productivity

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Movement Behavioral Characteristics Are Allometrically Relatmentioning

confidence: 60%

Grazing Allometry: Anatomy, Movement, and Foraging Behavior of Three Cattle Breeds of Different Productivity

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This is in line with previous studies showing that heritage cattle graze more evenly in space (Peinetti et al, ) and less selectively (Koczura et al, ) than modern breeds. For single traits such as woodiness, differences in forage selection among breeds have been detected by some previous studies (Orr, Tallowin, Griffith, & Rutter, ; Winder, Walker, & Bailey, ) that reported higher shrub consumption by less‐productive breeds, whereas others found traditional cattle avoiding shrubland (Spiegal et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Choosy grazers: Influence of plant traits on forage selection by three cattle breeds

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. Forage selection by herbivores is a major driver of plant diversity in pasture vegetation. Yet, we know relatively little about how plant traits influence decisions of different herbivore species and breeds to select or avoid a certain plant species on semi-natural pastures.2. We quantified the influence of the traits leaf N and P content, leaf dry matter content (LDMC), specific leaf area (SLA) and physical defence mechanisms on plant species selection for three cattle breeds: high-yielding Angus × Holstein crossbreed, dual-purpose Original Braunvieh and undemanding Highland Cattle. The cattle grazed a series of adjacent paddocks in different alpine pastures. Plant species selection was quantified by assessing the difference in biomass proportions of all plant species in 66 vegetation subplots per breed before and after grazing. Plant traits and indicator values were extracted from the TRY database. Data on 152 plant species were analysed using a local mixed-effects model and a global multivariate hierarchical regression model. 3. Plant traits had a clear impact on forage behaviour. Plants with high SLA, leaf N and P contents were significantly selected, whereas plants with high LDMC (e.g. woody plants) and defence mechanisms (e.g. thistles) were generally avoided. Species with high forage quality indicator values as defined by Briemle et al. (2002) were significantly preferred. More importantly, significant differences between forage behaviour of cattle breeds were detected. Selection by less-productive Highland Cattle was much less influenced by plant traits than the selection by the two higher-yielding breeds. 4. Results indicate a clear impact of plant traits on forage selection and demonstrate breed-specific influences. Highland Cattle (and possibly other robust breeds) graze less selectively and impose less selective exclusion on plants. Thereby, they likely influence plant species composition of pastures in a different way than highyielding breeds, thereby creating a distinct habitat. K E Y W O R D S alpine pastures, Bayesian statistics, cattle breeds, forage selection, plant traits, species diversity | 981 Functional Ecology PAULER Et AL.

show abstract

“…One of the management strategies is development of heat tolerant genetically adapted cattle breeds that can subsist in lean precipitation. Members of this team are engaged in research with a heritage cattle breed, the Raramuri Criollo from Mexico, with the goal of identifying a beef cattle breed that is better adapted to a progressively drier and hotter Southwest as shown in [53,54]. Table 5.…”

Section: A Perspective Of Practical Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evaluation of Historical Trends in New Mexico Beef Cattle Production in Relation to Climate and Energy

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In support of Food-Energy-Water Systems (FEWS) analysis to enhance its sustainability for New Mexico (NM), this study evaluated observed trends in beef cattle population in response to environmental and economic changes. The specific goal was to provide an improved understanding of the behavior of NM’s beef cattle production systems relative to precipitation, temperature, rangeland conditions, production of hay and crude oil, and prices of hay and crude oil. Historical data of all variables were available for the 1973–2017 period. The analysis was conducted using generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity models. The results indicated declining trends in beef cattle population and prices. The most important predictors of beef cattle population variation were hay production, mean annual hay prices, and mean annual temperature, whereas mean annual temperature, cattle feed sold, and crude oil production were the most important predictors for calf population that weigh under 500 lb. Prices of beef cattle showed a strong positive relationship with crude oil production, mean annual hay prices, rangeland conditions, and mean annual precipitation. However, mean annual temperature had a negative relationship with mean annual beef prices. Variation in mean annual calf prices was explained by hay production, mean annual temperature, and crude oil production. This analysis suggested that NM’s beef cattle production systems were affected mainly and directly by mean annual temperature and crude oil production, and to a lesser extent by other factors studied in this research.

show abstract

Seasonal Divergence of Landscape Use by Heritage and Conventional Cattle on Desert Rangeland

Cited by 38 publications

References 42 publications

Grazing Allometry: Anatomy, Movement, and Foraging Behavior of Three Cattle Breeds of Different Productivity

Grazing Allometry: Anatomy, Movement, and Foraging Behavior of Three Cattle Breeds of Different Productivity

Choosy grazers: Influence of plant traits on forage selection by three cattle breeds

An Evaluation of Historical Trends in New Mexico Beef Cattle Production in Relation to Climate and Energy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About