Selective grazing by some herbivores can alter pasture species composition, range condition and forage production within and between seasons. In this study, moderate sheep grazing in the fall-winter and spring-summer season, in the California annual grassland, was not selective between oak (Quercus douglasii) understory and open grasslands and did not alter species composition within or between years. Total cover and forb cover was reduced, while grass cover increased during the three year study. These changes were most likely due to changes in stocking rate and weather patterns among study years because they also occurred in ungrazed pastures. The authors concluded that seasonal sheep grazing is not an effective method for changing species composition and range condition in the California annual grassland.
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