Based on their observations of cattle (Bos taurus) and bison (Bos bison) grazing on Nature Conservancy-owned reserves in three Great Plains states (Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota), Steuter and Hidinger compare the varying impacts of cattle and bison, in terms of diet, habitat, production requirements, and landscape level impacts. Under Nature Conservancy management, bison graze year-round on landscapes also managed with fire, resulting in patches of uniformly short vegetation surrounded by tall standing crop biomass. On similar landscapes, cattle are rotated through a series of pastures during the May-October growing season resulting in less residual standing crop. The authors conclude that management, rather than choice of species, is the key ingredient for rangeland conservation.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.