Botanical Composition of Yearling-Steer and Mature-Ewe Diets in the Kansas Flint Hills

Effects of prescribed fire timing on vigor of the invasive forb sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), total forage biomass accumulation, plant-community composition, and native fauna on tallgrass prairie in the Kansas Flint Hills

“…Although forbs are a relatively small contributor to total biomass of native tallgrass prairie, they are a key component of many ecosystem processes ( Grime, 1998 ). Forbs are a valuable diet component for domesticated livestock, wild ungulates, birds, and invertebrates; moreover, the relative importance of forbs in the diets of herbivores changes seasonally ( Cook, 1983 ; Aubel et al, 2011 ; Preedy et al, 2013 ; Sowers et al, 2019 ). Furthermore, Biondini et al (1989) suggested that forbs were of greater diagnostic value for judging environmental conditions than other plant types; in general, greater forb heterogeneity was equated with greater overall health.…”

“…Sericea lespedeza tends to be a highly competitive invader in the tallgrass prairie of Kansas for a variety of reasons. Dietary selection of sericea lespedeza growing on native rangelands by beef cattle is limited due to its elevated condensed tannin content ( Eckerle et al, 2011 ; Preedy et al, 2013 ; Sowers et al, 2019 ); therefore, control of propagation via grazing is unlikely because pastoral production systems in the tallgrass prairies of Kansas are overwhelmingly dominated by beef cattle ( USDA, 2017 ). When condensed-tannin levels in sericea lespedeza reached 5% to 12% of plant dry matter ( DM ), depressed DM intake, diet digestibility, and animal productivity were documented ( Aerts et al, 1999 ).…”

“…In pastoral beef production systems of the tallgrass prairie, sericea lespedeza invasion has manifested itself as diminished carrying capacity for beef cattle grazing ( Preedy et al, 2013 ; Sowers et al, 2019 ); however, detrimental effects of invasion on grassland fauna have also been documented. Eddy and Moore (1998) observed diminished invertebrate diversity in sericea lespedeza-invaded tallgrass prairie, whereas Brooke et al (2016) reported disproportionate placement of nests by northern bobwhite ( Colinus virginianus ) in areas that had been treated with herbicide to control sericea lespedeza compared with areas that were not treated.…”

Effects of prescribed fire timing on grazing performance of yearling beef cattle, forage biomass accumulation, and plant community characteristics on native tallgrass prairie in the Kansas Flint Hills

“…The impact of summer or autumn prescribed fire (i.e., August to October) on root carbohydrate concentrations of key native tall grass plant species has not previously been evaluated. Sowers et al (2019) reported that grazing yearling steers in the Kansas Flint Hills consumed a diet consisting of 88 to 91% graminoids and 9 to 12% forb or forb-like species. Major dietary graminoid species included big bluestem, little bluestem, switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum ), and Indiangrass, whereas major forb species included purple prairieclover and dotted gayfeather ( Liatris punctata ).…”

“…Sericea lespedeza was introduced into southeast Kansas in the early twentieth century as a soil-conservation measure; it has since invaded and degraded approximately 250,000 ha of Kansas prairie ( Ohlenbusch et al, 2007 ; KDA, 2018 ). Consumption of sericea lespedeza by beef cows and yearling beef calves is limited due to extreme concentrations of condensed tannins ( Preedy et al., 2013 ; Sowers et al, 2019 ). Pastoral production systems of the Kansas Flint Hills are overwhelmingly dominated by beef cattle ( USDA, 2017 ); therefore, control of sericea lespedeza via grazing is unlikely.…”