Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Grazing Preferences of Cattle in Regenerating Aspen Forest
Author
Fitzgerald, R. D.
Hudson, R. J.
Bailey, A. W.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1986-01-01
Body

The relative preferences of cattle for the major plant species in regenerating aspen (Populus tremuloides) forest following burning were studied to assist in developing strategies for controlling aspen regrowth by grazing with cattle. The tendency of cattle to graze forest rather than grassland increased as grasses matured towards the end of the growing season. Within the forest, cattle preferred herbaceous species when they were present. Of the shrub species, generally wild rose (Rosa spp.) and wild raspberry (Rubus strigosus) were preferred over aspen but aspen was preferred over western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis). Aspen was grazed more readily late in the season than early. Similarly western snowberry, which was of consistently low acceptability, was relatively more acceptable late in the season. Cattle readily consumed wild raspberry in both years and both seasons. Wild rose was accepted early in the season in both years but was less preferred late in the season when it had relatively more woody growth. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2307/3899677
Additional Information
Fitzgerald, R. D., Hudson, R. J., & Bailey, A. W. (1986). Grazing preferences of cattle in regenerating aspen forest. Journal of Range Management, 39(1), 13-18.
IISN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/645504
Journal Volume
39
Journal Number
1
Journal Pages
13-18
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
afforestation
silvicultural systems
regenerative ability
forests
Populus tremuloides
Alberta
grazing behavior
cattle