Treesearch
Estimated carrying capacity for cattle competing with prairie dogs and forage utilization in western South Dakota
| Authors: | Daniel Uresk, Deborah D. Paulson |
| Year: | 1988 |
| Type: | General Technical Report |
| Station: | Rocky Mountain Research Station |
| Source: | In: Szaro, Robert C.; Severson, Kieth E.; Patton, David R., technical coordinators. Management of amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals in North America: Proceedings of the symposium; 1988 July 19-21; Flagstaff, AZ. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-166. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. p. 387-398. |
Download (PDF 1.30 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/30746.pdf
Abstract
Carrying capacities for cattle competing with black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) were estimated by a linear programming technique for management of cool-season grasses in western South Dakota. Forage utilization was allowed to range from 20% to 80%. Under management for cool-season grasses (western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii); needlegrasses (Stipa spp.)), stocking rates of cows ranged from 43 to 214 per hectare over a 6-month grazing season, and cow-calf stocking rates ranged from-43 to 214 per hectare over a 6-month grazing season, and cow-calf stocking rates ranged from 23 to 161. Needlegrasses and needleleaf sedge (Carex eleocharis) were key forage species.Parent Publication
- Management of amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals in North America: Proceedings of the symposium