The effects of moderate to heavy sheep use (100, 150, and 200% of moderate use) were measured by Rosiere, on species composition and forage production in two major subtypes, the grass-woodland subtype and the improved grassland subtype, of the California annual grasslands. Species composition varied between the two subtypes, and species composition within both subtypes was affected by grazing intensity. In both subtypes, forage use increased and residue decreased with increasing grazing intensity while production response differed between subtypes. Production in the grass-woodland subtype was not affected by grazing intensity and production in the improved grassland subtype was highest at the 150% of moderate use treatment and lowest at 200% of moderate use treatment. During this experiment, the effects of grazing intensity were minimal compared to the effects of yearly variations in environmental conditions and therefore the authors believe that grazing intensity will not negatively affect yield from these grassland subtypes when stocking rates range between 0.1 and 0.6 AU/ha.
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