Cattle were used in a short term study in central Utah, at the head of Six-mile canyon near Manti, Utah, to evaluate tall larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi) consumption in relation to site, plant phenology and rumen fill. Study was conducted in the transistional zone between pinyon juniper woodlands and salt desert shrub. The first experiment examined tall larkspur consumption at four distinct phonological stages (bud, early flower, full flower, and pod stages) from early July to late August. The second experiment evaluated grazing behavior of rumenally cannulated steers on two sites (full sun vs. shaded) and three levels of rumen fill (0, 50 and 100%).
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