Picloram was applied to a leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) infested range site on the 5E Ranch near Grass Range, Montana (46° 50’ W, 108° 50’ W), but only to create different levels of leafy spurge shoot density and canopy cover. Plots, 5 x 29 m were established with 4 replications. Each plot was fenced and divided in half to allow for grazing and non-grazing on each plot. Non-grazed plots were grazed the flowing year. Cattle were grazed on test sites from the first of June and continued for 6 to 8 weeks; grazing was terminated when utilization reached 50% on leafy spurge free plots. Stocking rates averaged 2 AUM/ha. Leafy spurge shoot density was determined using four, 0.25 x 0.25 m permanent sites within each plot; percent canopy cover of grass, leafy spurge and forbs was determined from 100 data points from a 10-pin vertical point frame read along a permanent transect within each plot. Production data was calculated from samples harvested in August, dried and separated into leafy spurge, grasses, and forbs. Forage production in this study refers to only grass production. Utilization was calculated by comparing grazed and ungrazed production within the same treatment plot.
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