Frost et al. discuss how utilization should be defined, what is measured and how it is measured, and what proper utilization is. Utilization is usually expressed as a percentage of the height or weight of forage plants which have been removed by grazing. It can also be expressed as the height or weight of plant material remaining on forage plants after grazing. The authors concluded that the Society for Range Management definition of utilization is not practical as utilization is rarely expressed or measurable as defined. Frost et al. suggest that utilization guidelines must be tailored for specific situation, i.e. time of use, what is measured, and how use is measured. Timing of grazing is much more important than percentage of biomass removed, and that a new term such as 'relative utilization' be used to express utilization as it is currently being measured and the information is being used. Relative guidelines can be developed and tailored to specific situations which are reliable indices for making management decisions.
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.