How livestock grazing habits and growth requirements of range plants determine sound grazing management
Hormay, A.L.
Jour Range Management 9(4): 161-164
1956
DOI: 10.2307/3894382
Accession: 024801320
Improvement and maintenance of western range lands are dependent primarily on proper management of grazing. Studies on mountain ranges in northeastern California showed that selective grazing of the vegetation by livestock is a prime cause of range deterioration and loss of productive capacity. Harmful effects of selective grazing cannot be prevented so long as the range is grazed. However, they can be overcome by resting the range from grazing at intervals long enough that the important forage species can recover vigor and reproduce. The fundamental answer to range improvement and maintenance, therefore, is rest and rotation grazing. To effect rest-rotation grazing, the range must be divided into units. The number of units and the timing of grazing in them is determined by the growth requirements of the key forage species on the range[long dash]the species that is most desired for grazing and soil cover.