Environmental and topographic parameters on a mountainous forested range were analyzed to establish causes of cattle behavioral responses. Distinct home range groups of cattle were identified through examination of quality and patterns of forage use, cattle distribution, herd social structure, and cattle activities. The home range of one group encompassed only upland areas. Water and vegetation type were important parameters in determining area and degree of use. Vertical distance above water was the most important factor in determining vegetation utilization on moderately steep slopes. Time after sunrise and relative humidity factors were key factors in determining kind and timing of cattle activity. Cattle have been grazing forested ranges in western United States for more than 125 years (United States Senate 1936). Grazing units on the forests have been fenced, restricting livestock to given areas. Fencing placed definite limits on forage and often increased animal concentration on key vegetation types. Some vegetation types were over-utilized while others were left ungrazed. As the demand for more and varied uses of mountain land areas increases, it becomes important to enhance livestock distribution, alleviating concentration problems and minimizing real or potential conflicts with other resource uses. Detailed information assessing the pattern of livestock use, the types and amounts of forage consumed, and livestock distribution is required. This is only baseline information; in order to apply it, one must know the cause and the mechanism of each parameter. Determining causes for observed actions of cattle overlaps range management and applied behavioral sciences. External physical and biotic influences interact with the animal's innate behavioral complex to produce a given response. Measurement of influencing parameters must be matched with the animal response and examined to establish the cause and effect relationship. Distance from water, topography, temperature, humidity, and forage availability have been rated as important parameters in modifying animal behavior. Herd structure is a behavioral factor which could have considerable influence on grazing patterns and forage use. Many researchers have observed a given event and assessed the impact on vegetation, but those observations were often not analyzed in terms of what caused the event. This research was designed to quantitatively define the influences of topography, environment and biotic factors on cattle distribution and grazing habits. Cattle behavioral responses to external factors were described by regression relationships.

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This study emphasizes short-term management decisions that are made in a yearling cattle operation in northeastern Colorado. Empirical equations describing forage and animal growth were coupled with marketing and supplementation rltemrtives. Four cases were modeled with high and low stocking densities and partial or total sales strategfes. Net present value of yearling steer sales were nuzhnized using dynamic programming. Early sale of cattle was an economically favorable rltemrtfve because of decreasing daily grins to-d the end of the grazing season (September-October) and decreasing steer prices. Supplementation during September-October was also profitable to offset the decreasing trend in average daily gain caused by declining forage quality. Under the high stocking density and partial sales strategy, errly sales regulated standhtg crop left at the end of the grazing season. Under the low stocking density and partial sales strategy, early sales partially offset net return losses for those animals that had to be sold at the traditional marketing date. The total sales strategy favored sales of livestock 2 weeks before traditional marketing under low and high stocking density and partial sales strategy. Net present values per pasture were slightly larger for the total sales strrrtegy than the partial sales strategy using both low and high stocking densities.