Twelve ruminally cannulated and six intact crossbred beef steers were used in a randomized complete block design to evaluate the effects of stocking density of a riparian pasture in the Sierra Nevada mountains on grazing behavior, dietary selection, forage intake, digesta kinetics, and growth rates of Juncus balticus and Carex nebraskensis. Standing crop biomass was greater in grazed pastures than in ungrazed pastures at initiation of grazing in 1992 and 1993. Stocking density did not alter botanical or chemical composition of the diet in 1992, and only minor differences were noted in 1993. Forage intake, passage rate measures, and total time spent loafing did not differ between low and moderate grazing steers. Total time spent grazing was greater for moderate steers than for low steers in 1992 and was affected by a treatment and trial intersection in 1993. In 1992 grazing time along streamsides was greater for low steers than for mod steers, and significant treatment and trial interactions were noted for grazing time spent along the forest edge and mid-meadow areas. In general, the data suggest that management decisions to reduce stocking densities may force cattle to congregate along streambanks and to concentrate grazing and loafing activities in those areas.
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