Motivate livestock grazing patterns

By DOUG WARNOCK

For the Capital Press

An understanding of the various things that influence the behavior of grazing animals is a valuable aid for managers of livestock grazing operations. The study of the behavior of grazing animals is a fascinating, useful and continuous endeavor for the lifelong learner.

Derek Bailey, a professor of animal and range science at New Mexico State University, pulled together several studies focused on the various factors that influence the grazing patterns of livestock. He summarized the points that managers might use in managing their livestock on rangelands.

One of the challenges when grazing rangelands is to get a distribution of animals that will result in a relatively even removal of forage. The idea is to avoid allowing animals to spend too much time in the more attractive areas, which can result in overgrazing and damage, and to spend enough time in the more remote areas to minimize underutilization of that forage.

Grazing managers are aware of the physical land factors that influence grazing behavior, including distance to water and slope, which can negatively influence good distribution over the range area. We often have trouble getting animals to the higher, steeper sites that are farther away from water. On many of our Western rangelands we find areas along streams, where the higher moisture promotes greater forage, to be more attractive. Achieving uniform animal distribution is often a challenge.

It has been shown that grazing distribution can be improved through the selection of herd replacements from dams that tend to travel farther over the grazing area. One researcher classified cattle into three groups according to their social behavior when grazing: leaders, followers and independents. The independents were often found not to follow the others, but strike off on their own and explore different areas.

Livestock unfamiliar with an area will spend more time searching and tend to be in lower condition than those familiar with the area, who know where to find the best forage. Also, those knowing the area can more easily avoid poisonous plants that are present.

It was found that when exposing animals to a new pasture or area it is best not to start them in a riparian area or one with a significantly higher quality forage. Doing so creates a high expectation and can result in their going directly to these areas and spending more time there than they should.

Grazing animals select nutrient-rich sites more often than less productive sites when in heterogeneous or diverse habitats. In homogeneous or uniform habitats they tend to alternate among sites. Animals develop grazing memories that help them to select among patches and feeding areas and this is thought to improve their grazing efficiency.

Understanding livestock grazing behavior and knowing how to influence it is a valuable tool for the livestock grazing manager.

Doug Warnock, retired after 35 years as an extension agent with Washington State University, consults and writes on ranch and farm management.