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EVALUATION OF CATTLE GRAZING USE WHEN APPLYING RAFFINATE TO LEAFY SPURGE-INVADED RANGELANDS.
Author
Ellig, Tracy L.
Sedivec, Kevin K.
Whitted, Dennis
Limb, Ryan F.
Belland, Kent A.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2017
Body

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula�L.) is a noxious weed that threatens grasslands throughout the northern Great Plains. Leafy spurge threatens prairie communities by displacing native species and reducing diversity. Leafy spurge is not grazed by cattle.� Effective management of this plant requires awareness of practices available for control. Today, herbicides remain the most effective and commonly used practice to manage leafy spurge. However, if we can change the grazing behavior of cattle to consume leafy spurge, we would convert a weed into a valuable forage. In this study we tested the use of raffinate, a molasses extract, as a spray on feed attractant to increase forage and feed palatability of leafy spurge. The study consisted of three treatments to include 100% raffinate, 50% raffinate:50% water mixture, salt blocks and a control using a random block design with three replicates. The study was conducted on the Gilbert C. Grafton Military Training Base (South Unit) near McHenry, ND. Treatments were grazed with cow/calf pairs throughout the study duration. Treatments were applied in mid-June, mid-July and again in early September.� Study objectives were to 1) determine if raffinate applied at two different ratios would attract cattle to consume leafy spurge and 2) determine if cattle grazing leafy spurge would alter the plant community over time.� Degree of disappearance was determined by clipping 0.25 m2 plots systematically place in all treatments every 8 m at the end of the grazing season.� Plant composition was determined by collecting graminoid species presence;absence using 0.1m2 every 5 m and density of leafy spurge and other broad leaf forbs using a 0.25m2 plot every 5 m. Research data is currently being analyzed.� Based on our observations during the data collection periods, cattle grazed leafy spurge at a higher rate on the 100% raffinate and salt block treatments.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM St. George, UT
Collection
SRM Annual Meeting Abstracts