Effect of grazing intensity upon vegetation and cattle gains on ponderosa pine-bunchgrass ranges of the Front Range of Colorado

Abstract

Stockmen and managers of western range lands, both public and private, are vitally interested in stocking their ranges on a basis that will assure sustained forage and livestock production at a high level. It is recognized that if ranges are stocked too heavily, the vegetation deteriorates, producing less forage and less livestock. On the other hand, too light grazing fails to make use of forage that is available, and livestock production is less than it should be. This problem of proper stocking is especially important to stockmen and ranchers of the Front Range of Colorado. Many of them graze only a few head of livestock, and it is necessary for them to obtain the best possible income from their relatively small herds. The larger livestock operators that graze in the area also need a basis for proper stocking in order to operate efficiently.

Citation

Johnson, W. M. 1953. Effect of grazing intensity upon vegetation and cattle gains on ponderosa pine-bunchgrass ranges of the Front Range of Colorado. Circular 929. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 36 p.