Cattle foraging behavior was observed over three years on a 121 ha pasture near Leonard, North Dakota. Cattle were grazed season long at a heavy stocking rate (0.53 AUM/ha - 0.61 AUM/ha) in a pasture with four levels of leafy spurge infestation ranging from zero, low, moderate and high (0, 20 to 40, 40 to 60, and 60 to 80% leafy spurge). Herbage production and use were estimated for the four infestation classes. Density of leafy spurge was estimate annually by counting all leafy spurge stems in 12, 0.25 m² plots per density class across 4 replicates. Mid- and end of season production and use of cool- and warm season grasses, forbs and leafy spurge were estimated by clipping two paired, grazed an ungrazed 0.25 m² plots in each density class and replicate in July and then again in October.
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