Structural anti-quality characteristics of range and pasture plants

Laca, E. A.; Shipley, L. A.; Reid, E. D.

doi:10.2458/azu_jrm_v54i4_laca

Cited by 14 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…During this period, we surmise that bison were compensating for low protein availability in forage by consuming higher amounts of low‐quality forage although this strategy may reduce short‐term nutrient intake as observed in other studies (Laca et al. , ). However, the taxonomic resolution of our isotopic analysis did not separate C 3 graminoids from nongrass C 3 plants (e.g., trees, shrubs, and forbs) in the diet of our study animals.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Foraging decisions underlying restricted space use: effects of fire and forage maturation on large herbivore nutrient uptake

Raynor

Joern

Nippert

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Recent models suggest that herbivores optimize nutrient intake by selecting patches of low to intermediate vegetation biomass. We assessed the application of this hypothesis to plains bison (Bison bison) in an experimental grassland managed with fire by estimating daily rates of nutrient intake in relation to grass biomass and by measuring patch selection in experimental watersheds in which grass biomass was manipulated by prescribed burning. Digestible crude protein content of grass declined linearly with increasing biomass, and the mean digestible protein content relative to grass biomass was greater in burned watersheds than watersheds not burned that spring (intercept; F 1,251 = 50.57, P < 0.0001). Linking these values to published functional response parameters, ad libitum protein intake, and protein expenditure parameters, Fryxell's (Am. Nat., 1991, 138, 478) model predicted that the daily rate of protein intake should be highest when bison feed in grasslands with 400–600 kg/ha. In burned grassland sites, where bison spend most of their time, availability of grass biomass ranged between 40 and 3650 kg/ha, bison selected foraging areas of roughly 690 kg/ha, close to the value for protein intake maximization predicted by the model. The seasonal net protein intake predicted for large grazers in this study suggest feeding in burned grassland can be more beneficial for nutrient uptake relative to unburned grassland as long as grass regrowth is possible. Foraging site selection for grass patches of low to intermediate biomass help explain patterns of uniform space use reported previously for large grazers in fire‐prone systems.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Foraging decisions underlying restricted space use: effects of fire and forage maturation on large herbivore nutrient uptake

Raynor

Joern

Nippert

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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“…On the contrary, plants aim at reducing herbivore impact by developing defence structures such as hairs, thorns or spines (Gong & Zhang, ; Laca, Shipley, & Reid, ). We detected a negative response to physical defence mechanisms, but it was less pronounced than expected.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2020

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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.

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“…Herbage intake depends not only on herbage nutritive value, but also on its availability (Hirata, 2002) and accessibility (Ungar and Noy-Meir, 1988), with the latter being directly related to sward canopy structure. Most advances in time appreciation of the plant-animal interface have come from research based on either artificially modified or constructed swards (Laca et al. 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term foraging dynamics of cattle grazing swards with different canopy structures1

Gregorini¹,

Gunter

Beck³

et al. 2009

Journal of Animal Science

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The objective of the present experiment was to describe the sward canopy structures of 3 different wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) pastures and relate them to short-term herbage intake rate and foraging dynamics by steers. Pastures were sampled for leaf and stem fractions at the bottom, middle, and top canopy strata. Sward surface heights and tiller and bulk densities were measured. Herbage was separated into stem and leaf, and leaves were then ranked phenologically. Three steers grazed (grazing sessions) 3 different pastures in a Latin square design. Ruminal contents were emptied and weighed before and after grazing sessions to assess herbage intake rate and bite mass. All grazing sessions were video recorded and analyzed for feeding stations (eating steps demarking the potential area of herbage consumption), bites per feeding station, and feeding stations per minute. Bite depth, bite area, and area grazed per feeding station were calculated. Morphological components and tiller density did not differ (P > 0.05) between the pastures, but sward surface height (P < 0.05) and leaf proportions in the middle and top canopy strata did differ. The herbage intake rate, bite mass, and bite area differed between treatments (P < 0.05). Steers grazing the tallest pasture with the greatest leaf accessibility ate faster, navigated slower, and grazed more efficiently (P < 0.05). The area grazed per feeding station differed between treatments (P < 0.05), being 87% for the tallest pasture with the greatest leaf accessibility and the least, 31%, for the pasture with the least leaf accessibility. Pastures with greater leaf accessibility may lead grazing cattle to reach the same herbage intake amount in less time while grazing more efficiently per unit area. Therefore, it may be logical to reduce the area and time allocations in pastures with taller swards where a leafy upper canopy stratum is found.

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Structural anti-quality characteristics of range and pasture plants

Cited by 14 publications

References 45 publications

Foraging decisions underlying restricted space use: effects of fire and forage maturation on large herbivore nutrient uptake

Foraging decisions underlying restricted space use: effects of fire and forage maturation on large herbivore nutrient uptake

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

Short-term foraging dynamics of cattle grazing swards with different canopy structures1

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