Herbaceous stubble height as a warning of impending cattle grazing damage to riparian areas.

Frederick C. Hall; Larry Bryant

doi:10.2737/PNW-GTR-362

Treesearch

Herbaceous stubble height as a warning of impending cattle grazing damage to riparian areas.

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Frederick C. Hall, Larry Bryant

Year:

1995

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Pacific Northwest Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/PNW-GTR-362

Source:

Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-362. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 9 p

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Abstract

Prevention of damage to riparian areas from cattle grazing is essential for sound watershed management. Various stubble heights of the most palatable species are used to predict when unacceptable impacts-heavy use or trampling, or both-are about to occur. Managers can observe stubble height and usage and recommend moving the cattle if undesirable effects from continued livestock grazing are anticipated. Three guides for determining when to move cattle are presented: (1) stubble height approaches 3 inches; (2) stubble height changes from 3 inches to 3/4 of an inch; and (3) the most palatable vegetation starts drying regardless of stubble height.

Keywords

Stubble height, riparian, damage, cattle, drying

Citation

Hall, Frederick C.; Bryant, Larry. 1995. Herbaceous stubble height as a warning of impending cattle grazing damage to riparian areas. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-362. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 9 p