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Symposium on Pasture Methods for Maximum Production in Beef Cattle: Competitive Use of the Range Forage Resource^{1, 2,}

University of Nevada, Reno

Abstract

Competitive use of the range forage resource between livestock and big game species becomes more important on the public domain with increased public demand for recreation associated with big game species. In Nevada this appears to be primarily a problem existing between cattle and mule deer. Studies were initiated to better delineate the actual areas of competition between the two species. Rumenfistulated cattle were used to obtain a total of 493 samples of forage on three study areas. Rumen contents were obtained from 171 deer on five study areas. Samples were collected over several years and during specific grazing periods. Samples were analyzed for grass, browse and forbs. Individual browse and forb species were identified. Cattle extensively selected grass on all study areas, with grass accounting for over 80% of the diet as long as it was available. However, when grass was no longer available, then cattle consumed browse. Cattle selected some browse in fall months; mainly bitterbrush. Deer selected browse approximately to the same degree that cattle selected grass. Additionally, deer select three to five browse species; whereas cattle appear to concentrate on only one browse species in any area. The two periods of prime importance for competition are early spring use of grass and late fall selection of browse, primarily bitterbrush. Spring competition may be avoided by delaying cattle turnout on deer use ranges until May. Fall use of browse may be regulated similarly. However, management of bitterbrush stands with periodic livestock grazing suggests that more forage may be produced for deer. Data from this study, as well as others, suggest that the maximum production of deer can only be obtained on ranges managed with domestic livestock.

¹ Presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Animal Science, Stillwater, Oklahoma, August 1968. The Symposium, made possible by support from the American Hereford Association, was organized jointly by the Pastures and Forages Committee, A.S.A.S., and the American Forage and Grassland Council.

² Contribution from the Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Nevada, Journal Series No. 125.

³ Division of Animal Science.

⁴ Division of Renewable Natural Resources.

⁵ The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of F. E. Kinsinger, R. A. Brechbill, K. W. Brown, Norman Raymond, George Tsukamoto, Jack Woody, Marshall Humphreys, Clark Torell, D. W. Marble and C. F. Speth for aid in these investigations.