Tiedemann et al. compared the effects of four grazing strategies, (A) no grazing, (B) grazing without management, (C) grazing with management, (D) grazing with management and cultural practices to increase forage, on concentrations of fecal coliform and fecal streptococcus. Tiedemann et al. state that although there was not a significant (P = 0.101) increase in fecal coliform concentrations when cattle were present, they did observe a ninefold greater fecal coliform count compared to no cattle grazing. Physical and vegetative characteristics played a bigger role in fecal coliform levels than did actual animal numbers. Fecal coliform levels remained elevated for up to 9 months after animals had been removed. Two strategy D watersheds violated the Oregon water quality 30-day log10 standard of no more than 2 x 103 FC L-1. One watershed was in violation for most of the sampling period.
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.