Range Management

Range Management Terminology Range Management- Manipulation of rangeland components to obtain optimum combination of goods and services for society on a sustained basis. Rangeland (Range)- Uncultivated land that will provide the necessities of life for grazing and browsing animals. Multiple Use- Harmonious use of the range for more than one purpose; livestock, wildlife, water, recreation, etc.

Grazing and rangelands

Range Management Terminology cont. Common Use- Intentional grazing of the range by more than one type of animal to obtain economic and /or social benefit. Ecology- Study of the relationship between organism or group of organisms and their environment. Economics- Study of how to allocate scarce resources among competing uses.

Range Management Terminology cont. Ruminant- Have enlarged compartment (rumen) that permits microbial degradation of food before it passes to the stomach (abomasum) [cow, deer, sheep, goat, elk, moose, etc.] Forage- All plant material on a given area potentially edible by livestock and wildlife. Grasses - Plants that have hollow; jointed stems; fine narrow leaves; and fibrous roots.

Range Management Terminology cont. Forbs- Nongrass-like plants that have tap root, broad leaves, and solid non-jointed stems. Shrubs -Woody plants that have long, coarse roots; branch near ground level; and generally have broad leaves. Trees - Woody plants that have a trunk that branches well above ground.

Basic Range Management Concepts 1. Grazing land is a renewable resource. 2. Energy from the sun can be captured by green plants which can only be harvested by the grazing animal. 3. Grazing land supply us with food and fiber at a very low additional energy cost.

Basic Range Management Concepts 4. The amount and kind of forage available is determined by the type of soil and the climatic conditions. A given set of soil and climatic conditions define a “range site” 5. Grazing lands supply us with multiple products: food, fiber, fishing, hunting, sightseeing, minerals, timber, and water.

Four Basic Principles of Grazing Management Proper Stocking rate Proper Season of grazing Proper Distribution of grazing across landscape Match kinds and classes with the rangeland vegetation, topography and climate Proper grazing animals

Grazing Management Concepts Basic tenets of grazing management Grazing intensity (degree of use) Light – moderate – heavy – extreme Methods for monitoring degree of use Key area method (Key species)

Grazing Intensity A certain amount of plant biomass must remain to maintain to assure health of animals, plants and soil Herbivore diet Plant vigor and reproduction Soil stability

Grazing Intensity As annual precipitation declines, sustainable level of forage utilization generally decreases Sustainable intensity of grazing is directly related to availability of water and soil nutrients Greater resource availability increases proportional allocation to shoot relative to root

Monitoring Range Utilization Key Species Method for monitoring use Monitor utilization of 1-3 key species that are abundant, productive, and palatable (decreasers or increasers) rather than monitor many species Assumption: use of entire range is optimal when use of key species is optimal: Key species are moderately used – 30-40 % Secondary species are lightly used – 10-25 % “Ice-cream” plants may be overused – >40 %

Monitoring Range Utilization Key Area method for monitoring range use Monitor an area that is “representative” of overall range condition, trend, and degree of seasonal use No rangeland is uniformly used – some “sacrifice” areas will occur due to area selectivity Heavy use – Clipped or mowed appearance >50 % of fair or poor forage plants used Moderate Use 50 % of good or fair forage plants used Light use Only choice plants used

Monitoring Range Utilization Key Area method for monitoring range use Optimal stubble height in key areas following grazing vary: Tall-grasses 30-35 cm (12-14 inches) Mid-grasses 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) Short-grasses 5-8 cm (2-3 inches)

Monitoring Degree of Use Using the Demand Day (DD) as a measure of animal production and maintenance from the pasture. Energy required for maintenance and growth is estimated from animal weights and expressed as DD. Productivity of the pastures is estimated from observed animal production and degree of use on the pasture.

Season of Use Yearlong Seasonal Rotational Used primarily in tropical & sub-tropical climates Seasonal Temperate to cold climates Tame pastures Rotational Grazing Systems (This will be covered in a separate presentation.)

Length of Grazing Season vs Growing Season Rangelands– Grazing season is generally longer than the growing season. This requires stockpiling forage for use during the non-growing season. This frequently involves very light use during the peak growing season. Tame Pasture– Grazing season is matched with the growing season to harvest forage near maximum quality. Stockpiling forage usually involves shortening the grazing period during active growth.

Timing of Grazing Effect of grazing varies according to: Season of use -- Plants are more resistant to intense herbivory during dormancy than in active growth. Phenological stage of plant -- Defoliation in spring when plants start growth may be less harmful than in fall when plants are flowering and maturing. Opportunity for regrowth – Will plants be able to produce new leaves and develop strong root systems prior to entering dormancy following defoliation?

Grazing Distribution: Animal Selectivity Area distribution Landscape Patch Feeding station Species selective grazing Plant part selective grazing Live or dead Leaf of stem

Area Selection Factors affecting area selection include: Distance from Water Vegetation Type Topography (Slope) Range Site (Soils) Weather Animal pests such as flies Kind & class of animal Management practices such as supplementation

Distance from Water Recommended distances between watering points vary according to terrain, species of animal, and breed of livestock General recommendations: Rough country: ≈ 0.5-mile max Rolling country: 1.0-mile max Flat sandy country: ≈ 1.5-mile max Flat country ≈ 2.0-mile max

Vegetation Type Herbivores select areas with vegetation that best meets their nutritional needs Bulk grazers prefer open grasslands Cattle, Buffalo, White rhinos Browsers prefer wooded areas Mule deer, Giraffes, Black rhinos

Topography Figure 10.2 Relationship of slope gradient to the percentage of observations of cattle, feral horses, deer, and bighorn sheep. (From Ganskopp and Vavra 1987. Reprinted with permission.) Percent Slope Percent of Observations 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80+ Cattle Horses Deer Bighorn

Improving Livestock Distribution Provide supplemental feeds/mineral licks Cattle move from water to grazing to salt: Change location of salt-mineral licks Place salt away from water in areas that grazing animals are avoiding Grazing systems that reduce pasture size and significantly increase animal density may improve livestock grazing distribution.

Improving Livestock Distribution Prescribed burning Removal of previous years’ growth Greater access to new plant growth Early spring fires can Increase soil temperature Initiate growth Improve forage quality Encourage earlier grazing

Improving Livestock Distribution Adjust kind/class of livestock Changing animal species can improve livestock distribution depending on: Vegetation composition Water distribution Topography Because of non-uniform plant composition, multi-species animal production systems can increase: Herbivore distribution Vegetation use Animal production

Improving Livestock Distribution Fencing can be used to control: Area selective grazing Season of use Rotational grazing systems Use of high-value forages such as hay crops Movement of wildlife

Livestock Distribution Negative Aspects of Fencing Cost prohibitive where productivity is low Electric fences are less costly to construct than standard barbed wire but more expensive to maintain Restrict movement of some wild species High-fencing to control game species

Kind & Class of Animal Kind of animal (species) Cattle, sheep, goat, horse, wildlife species Class of animal (age, sex, physiological status) Reproductive -- pregnant or open Age -- mature or young Lactating or dry Adaptation to climate and forage quality Breed of animal Genetic potential for growth and lactation

Choice of Kind & Class of Animals Match animal genetics with forage quality Match the grazer with the landscape and the kinds of vegetation